Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nuss operation for pectus excavatum: a single-institution experience

  • Original Article
  • Published:
World Journal of Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The Nuss procedure for repair of pectus excavatum (PE) has been accepted worldwide because of minimal invasiveness and excellent cosmetic results. We summarized our experience with the treatment of 115 patients aged 2.7–18 years.

Methods

All the 115 patients underwent the Nuss procedure successfully from July 2003 to February 2008. They were divided into two groups: children group (below 12 years) and adolescents group (aged 12–18 years).

Results

The rate of complications was 14.7% and 37.5% in the children and adolescents groups, respectively (P<0.05). There was significant difference in operation time, length of hospital stay, and analgesic time between the two groups (P<0.05). The initial results of Nuss procedure were excellent.

Conclusions

The Nuss procedure can be performed with excellent early results in children. We suggest that children with PE should accept the Nuss procedure as early as possible when they are over 5 years old.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Fonkalsrud EW, DeUgarte D, Choi E. Repair of pectus excavatum and carinatum deformities in 116 adults. Ann Surg 2002;236:304–312.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Ravitch MM. The operative treatment of pectus excavatum. Ann Surg 1949;129:429–444.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Nuss D, Kelly RE Jr, Croitoru DP, Katz ME. A 10-year review of a minimally invasive technique for the correction of pectus excavatum. J Pediatr Surg 1998;33:545–552.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Pilegaard HK, Licht PB. Early results following the Nuss operation for pectus excavatum-a single-institution experience of 383 patients. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg 2008;7:54–57.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Kim HK, Choi YH, Cho YH, Ryu SM, Sohn YS, Kim HJ. A comparative study of pericostal and submuscular bar fixation technique in the Nuss procedure. J Korean Med Sci 2007;22:254–257.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Park HJ, Lee SY, Lee CS, Youm W, Lee KR. The Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum: evolution of techniques and early results on 322 patients. Ann Thorac Surg 2004;77:289–295.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Haller JA Jr, Colombani PM, Humphries CT, Azizkhan RG, Loughlin GM. Chest wall constriction after too extensive and too early operations for pectus excavatum. Ann Thorac Surg 1996;61:1618–1624.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Molik KA, Engum SA, Rescorla FJ, West KW, Scherer LR, Grosfeld JL. Pectus excavatum repair: experience with standard and minimal invasive techniques. J Pediatr Surg 2001;36:324–328.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Watanabe A, Watanabe T, Obama T, Ohsawa H, Mawatari T, Ichimiya Y, et al. The use of a lateral stabilizer increases the incidence of wound trouble following the Nuss procedure. Ann Thorac Surg 2004;77:296–300.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Croitoru DP, Kelly RE Jr, Goretsky MJ, Lawson ML, Swoveland B, Nuss D. Experience and modification update for the minimally invasive Nuss technique for pectus excavatum repair in 303 patients. J Pediatr Surg 2002;37:437–445.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Protopapas AD, Athanasiou T. Peri-operative data on the Nuss procedure in children with pectus excavatum: independent survey of the first 20 years’ data. J Cardiothorac Surg 2008;3:40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Fonkalsrud EW, Reemtsen B. Force required to elevate the sternum of pectus excavatum patients. J Am Coll Surg 2002;195:575–577.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Ohno K, Morotomi Y, Ueda M, Yamada H, Shiokawa C, Nakaoka T, et al. Comparison of the Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum by age and uncommon complications. Osaka City Med J 2003;49:71–76.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Nuss D, Croitoru DP, Kelly RE Jr, Goretsky MJ, Nuss KJ, Gustin TS. Review and discussion of the complications of minimally invasive pectus excavatum repair. Eur J Pediatr Surg 2002;12:230–234.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Niedbala A, Adams M, Boswell WC, Considine JM. Acquired thoracic scoliosis following minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum. Am Surg 2003;69:530–533.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Hebra A, Gauderer MW, Tagge EP, Adamson WT, Othersen HB Jr. A simple technique for preventing bar displacement with the Nuss repair of pectus excavatum. J Pediatr Surg 2001;36:1266–1268.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Shin S, Goretsky MJ, Kelly RE Jr, Gustin T, Nuss D. iInfectious complications after the Nuss repair in a series of 863 patients. J Pediatr Surg 2007;42:87–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical Colleage, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China

    Yong-Zhong Mao, Shao-Tao Tang, Yong Wang, Qiang-Song Tong & Qing-Lan Ruan

Authors
  1. Yong-Zhong Mao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shao-Tao Tang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yong Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Qiang-Song Tong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Qing-Lan Ruan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yong-Zhong Mao.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mao, YZ., Tang, ST., Wang, Y. et al. Nuss operation for pectus excavatum: a single-institution experience. World J Pediatr 5, 292–295 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-009-0055-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-009-0055-9

Key words

Search

Navigation