Surgical approach to treatment of asymmetric pectus excavatum in children

Abstract

Objective. To improve the outcomes in patients with asymmetric pectus excavatum (APE) by developing and implementing our own differentiated modified Nuss procedure to correct different variants of this deformity; to analyse the treatment outcomes. Materials and methods. An original modified Nuss procedure to correct the following pectus excavatum (PE) types is described: asymmetric eccentric focal (ІІА1 according to Park) type; asymmetric eccentric broad-flat (Park ІІА2) type; asymmetric eccentric long canal (the Grand Canyon type or Park IIA3) type; asymmetric unbalanced (Park IIB) type; asymmetric combined (Park IIC) type. The essence of the proposed technique is that at the beginning of the operation, a gradual elevation of the anterior chest wall is carried out to a maximally approximated physiological position using two or more traction ligatures applied to the sternum and ribs. In the future, a horizontal position of the fixation bar is used for asymmetric eccentric focal, asymmetric eccentric broad-flat, and asymmetric eccentric long canal types; and an oblique position with a more dorsal location of the bar end on the less depressed side is used for asymmetric unbalanced and asymmetric combined types. In both bar position variants, the rigid subperiosteal fixation of the bar stabilizers to two ribs bilaterally is used. The results of treatment according to this modification were analysed in 24 patients with different variants of asymmetric PE. Results. The proposed differentiated approaches to performing the Nuss procedure made it possible to obtain excellent and good cosmetic and functional results. There were three postoperative complications: one case of delayed pneumothorax and two cases of asymmetric manubriocostal pectus carinatum: one case after treatment of an asymmetric unbalanced PE (Park IIB) type and one - after correction of an asymmetric combined (Park IIC) type. Both patients with pectus carinatum underwent non-surgical treatment using an individually tailored dynamic compression brace system with excellent cosmetic and functional outcomes. Conclusions. The several-point traction of the anterior chest wall allows to shape its physiological form in most cases; the rigid bar fixation according to the proposed schemes ensures the retention of the chest wall shape. In the vast majority of cases, the placement of one corrective bar is sufficient. For the asymmetric combined (Park IIC) type correction, the implantation of two corrective bars or the “sandwich technique” is indicated if the defect is significant. In case of postoperative pectus carinatum, successful non-surgical treatment using an individually tailored dynamic compression brace system is possible. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local ethics committee of all participating institutions. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.

Keywords

• nuss procedure
• asymmetric pectus excavatum
• sternum elevation