title: Total extrapleura sternal elevation for the correction of pectus excavatum in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the thoracoscopic total extrapleural approach of the Nuss procedure for the correction of pectus excavatum in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Under thoracoscopic guidance, an extrapleural tunnel was created by using a blunt dissector via a right thoracic incision. A steel bar was inserted in the entirely extrapleural tunnel. The bar was turned and fixed as in the standard Nuss procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The operations were completed successfully in all patients. The operating time ranged from 35 to 50 minutes (median, 45). The intraoperative blood loss was 2 to 3 mL. There was no pneumothorax or hydrothoraxin our series. All patients were followed up for 2-6 months, and the surgical outcomes were excellent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The extrapleura Nuss procedure under thoracoscopic guidance is a safe and less traumatic procedure for the correction of pectus excavatum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shu-Li
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Wen-Ying
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Liu-Ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wen-Ya
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Hua-Wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005660:Funnel Chest / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013906:Thoracoscopy