[Mini-invasive treatment of pectus excavatum in adolescence. Initial experience].
BACKGROUND
Personal preliminary experience with Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum (MIRPE), "Nuss" procedure, using VATS is reported.


METHODS
From January 2001 to February 2002, MIRPE has been performed on 5 patients (age range 13-18 y; mean 14.8 y). Under general anesthesia, a curved steel bar is inserted into the retrosternal tunnel between 2 bilateral midaxillary line incisions. The tunnel passes initially under the pectoral muscles and enters the pleural space at level of the mammilary line. Under thoracoscopic vision, the bar is passed through the tunnel with the concavity facing the front and then is turned over thereby correcting deformity. An epidural catheter relieved perioperative pain successfully.


RESULTS
In all patients the repair has been good. Mean hospital length of stay has been 6.8 d. Pneumothorax occurred in 1 patient requiring tube thoracostomy. After 45 d 1 patient had a bar displacement requiring a reoperation. All patients have a normal life.


CONCLUSIONS
The Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum is an effective procedure even in adolescence. Thoracoscopic vision makes safer the creation of the retrosternal tunnel and the passage of the bar. Short-term results have been good. Further follow-up is necessary to determine long-term results.
Anile
M
M
Cattedra di Chirurgia Toracica Università di Roma La Sapienza, Roma. m.anile@virgilio.it
De Giacomo
T
T
Venuta
F
F
Angelo Rendina
E
E
Andreetti
C
C
Diso
D
D
Coloni
G F
GF
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005660:Funnel Chest / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted