查看文章

Objective

To review the surgical experience with pectus excavatum chest deformities at UCLA Medical Center during a 30-year period.

Background

Pectus excavatum is a relatively common malformation that is often symptomatic; however, children’s physicians often do not refer patients for surgical correction.

Methods

Hospital records from 375 patients who underwent repair of pectus excavatum deformities between 1969 and 1999 were reviewed. Decrease in stamina and endurance during exercise was reported by 67%; 32% had frequent respiratory infections, 8% had chest pain, and 7% had asthma. The mean pectus severity score (width of chest divided by distance between posterior surface of sternum and anterior surface of spine) was 4.65 (normal chest= 2.56). All patients had marked cardiac deviation into the left chest. Repair was performed with subperiosteal resection of the abnormal cartilages, transverse …