Total extrapleura sternal elevation for the correction of pectus excavatum in children.
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.
Liu
Shu-Li
SL
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
Li
Long
L
Cheng
Wei
W
Hou
Wen-Ying
WY
Huang
Liu-Ming
LM
Wang
Wen-Ya
WY
Zhang
Jun
J
Cui
Long
L
Xie
Hua-Wei
HW
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005660:Funnel Chest / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013906:Thoracoscopy