Pectus excavatum: increase of right ventricular systolic, diastolic, and stroke volumes after surgical repair.
OBJECTIVE
The study was undertaken to assess how a surgical correction of funnel chest modifies right ventricular structure and function.


METHODS
Before and 6 months after surgery in 42 patients (27 male and 15 female patients, aged 5-31 years), a pectus index was calculated and echocardiographic examinations of the right ventricle were performed, with calculation of systolic, diastolic, and stroke volume indices. Right ventricular volume was estimated by subtracting the left ventricular volume from that of the entire heart. The values of the right ventricular volumes and the pectus index before and after the operation, as well as the changes in the indices, were compared.


RESULTS
Statistically significant changes in the pectus index and the right ventricular volume indices after surgery were noted. No correlation was observed between the changes in the pectus index and the changes in any right ventricular volume indices.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical treatment of funnel chest causes an increase in right ventricular systolic, diastolic, and stroke volumes, although there is no correlation between these changes and the degree of sternocostal elevation.
Kowalewski
J
J
First Department of General Surgery, Department of Cardiology, Department of Orthopedic and Field Surgery, and Patomorphology, The Military Medical Academy, Lodz, Poland.
Brocki
M
M
Dryjanski
T
T
Zolyński
K
K
Koktysz
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002306:Cardiac Volume; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003971:Diastole; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005660:Funnel Chest / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013599:Systole; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right