Pectus excavatum can be surgically repaired, but surgery is usually reserved for people who have moderate to severe signs and symptoms. People who have mild signs and symptoms may be helped by physical therapy. Certain exercises can improve posture and increase the degree to which the chest can expand.

Is pectus excavatum surgery necessary?

Pectus excavatum does not require any treatment. The condition does not present a danger to the child. Surgical repair is an elective procedure and requires insurance approval before proceeding. Repair is typically done in the teenage years, once the pubertal growth spurt is underway or completed.

How risky is pectus excavatum surgery?

Possible complications from surgical repair of pectus excavatum include: Pneumothorax (air around the lung). Bleeding. Pleural effusion (fluid around the lung).

Is it bad to have pectus excavatum?

Severe cases of pectus excavatum can eventually interfere with the function of the heart and lungs. But even mild cases of pectus excavatum can make children feel self-conscious about their appearance. Surgery can correct the deformity.

When do you need pectus excavatum surgery?

The ideal age for surgical treatment of pectus excavatum is between 12 and 18 years. The goal of surgery to correct a pectus excavatum defect is to improve breathing, posture, and cardiac function, in addition to giving the chest a normal appearance.

Life With Pectus Excavatum

19 related questions found

How bad does pectus excavatum surgery hurt?

Patients also experience chest and back pain. This pain may be intermittent and may or may not be associated with exercise. Although the exact cause of the pain is unknown, almost two thirds of patients whopresent for surgical pectus excavatum repair have a history of chest pain.

How much does a pectus excavatum surgery cost?

The cost for the SIMPLE Pectus surgery for pectus excavatum can vary from $19,500 to $25,000. This is considerably less than the cost of Nuss and Ravitch procedures since no hospital stay is needed.

Can you fix pectus excavatum without surgery?

Mild to moderate pectus excavatum may be improved by a focused exercise regimen and/or a vacuum bell approach. The vacuum bell is a non-surgical treatment option for patients with mild or moderate pectus excavatum. While this procedure is non-surgical, it should be used under the supervision of our care team.

Does pectus excavatum get better with age?

After the age of 18 years, the deformity usually does not change anymore. Pectus excavatum is considered to be solely a cosmetic problem, despite the fact that there may be a considerable compression and relocation of thoracic organs. It can, however, lead to serious cardiac symptoms.

Is it normal to have a dip in your chest?

Pectus excavatum (funnel chest) is when your child's breastbone is pressed inwards and they have a dip between their ribs. The deformity may be symmetrical (the same on both sides) or may be more prominent on one side of the chest. Some children with funnel chest will live a normal life.

Has anyone died pectus excavatum?

One of the 6 died in 1947 because of complications from pectus repair. No autopsied patient with pectus excavatum died between the ages of 5 and 14 years. Eighteen were infants younger than 1 year, and all 18 died because of conditions unrelated to pectus excavatum.

Has anyone ever died of pectus excavatum surgery?

There have been at least 2 reported cases of cardiac injury and death following the Nuss procedure. The retrosternal dissection during the MIRPE and the placement of the bar can certainly cause a life-threatening complication such as cardiac injury.

Does insurance pay for pectus excavatum surgery?

Aetna considers surgical repair of severe pectus excavatum deformities that cause functional deficit medically necessary when done for medical reasons in members who meet all of the following criteria: Well-documented evidence of complications arising from the sternal deformity.

What percentage of men have pectus excavatum?

Pectus excavatum occurs in an estimated 1 in 300-400 births, with male predominance (male-to-female ratio of 3:1). The condition is typically noticed at birth, and more than 90% of cases are diagnosed within the first year of life.

Can working out fix pectus excavatum?

Exercise will not cure pectus excavatum, but it can improve poor posture and may slow progression of mild to moderate conditions. Regular exercise can also lessen problems with breathing or exercise stamina.

Is there a way to get rid of pectus excavatum?

In moderate to severe cases of pectus excavatum, the doctor may recommend that the chest be surgically fixed. This can be done in two ways: The Nuss procedure is a minimally invasive surgery where steel bars are placed horizontally inside the child's chest behind their breastbone.

Does pectus excavatum affect posture?

Patients with Pectus Excavatum frequently have a posture, which accentuates the defect. The typical “Pectus posture” includes forward sloping shoulders, a kyphotic spine (curved forward) and a protuberant abdomen. This posture undoubtly makes the Pectus look worse than it is.

How long does it take to recover from pectus excavatum surgery?

Most patients recover in six weeks, but precautions must be taken during exercise/sports. The bars will be removed as an outpatient procedure in two to three years.

Can mild pectus excavatum go away?

Kids with mild pectus excavatum — who aren't bothered by their appearance and don't have breathing problems — typically don't need treatment. In some cases, surgery can treat pectus excavatum.

Can you play sports with pectus excavatum?

The symptoms can affect their athletic performance, which can result in a lack of confidence and avoidance of exercise and sports activities. Because others may stare at or comment about their chest, some pectus patients may avoid activities such as swimming, where others may see their chest.

Does vacuum bell therapy work?

Vacuum bell therapy slowly corrects the pectus excavatum. For the therapy to be successful, the child will need to wear the vacuum bell over a long period of time. This can be for one to two years. The vacuum bell can be an effective non-invasive option for treatment of pectus excavatum.

Can adults have pectus excavatum surgery?

Although the majority of patients with pectus excavatum undergo repair during childhood, there are no contraindications for repair in the adult. As will be described below, both the open Ravitch and Nuss type of repair can be successfully performed in the adult with excellent results.

Is pectus excavatum genetic?

There is no known cause for pectus excavatum. It can sometimes run in families — which suggests genetics may play a role. Pectus excavatum can also be associated with connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome.

What is the best age for Nuss procedure?

Background: The ideal time to operate on pectus excavatum (PE) using the Nuss procedure (NP) is between 12 and 18 years of age, because it is more difficult to bend the sternum of older patients and they have more pain and complications.

What is the best surgery for pectus excavatum?

Nuss procedure

The two most common surgical procedures to repair pectus excavatum are known by the names of the surgeons who first developed them: Nuss procedure. This minimally invasive procedure uses small incisions placed on each side of the chest.