title: Thoracic malformation with early-onset scoliosis: effect of serial VEPTR expansion thoracoplasty on lung growth and function in children.
abstract: The effect on pulmonary function of serial VEPTR expansion thoracoplasty was studied longitudinally in anesthetized children with spondylothoracic dysplasia using a special mobile unit. The median age of 24 children at the start of surgery was 4.6 years (1.8-10.8) and most exhibited a moderate-to-severe restrictive lung defect. After a median of 3.2 years (1.0-6.5), their forced vital capacity (FVC) was found to have increased by an average of 11.1%/year. The rate of increase was greater in children who were younger than 6 years at the start of the study than in older children (14.5% versus 6.5%, p<0.01). The average specific respiratory system compliance (C(rs)) was mildly-to-moderately decreased at the start, and over the study it decreased on average to 56% of the initial value in spite of clinically successful expansion thoracoplasty and lung growth, indicating increasing stiffness of the thorax with growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. motoyamaek@anes.upmc.edu
authors.forename: Etsuro K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Motoyama
authors.forename: Charles I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Vincent F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Deeney
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009139:Musculoskeletal Abnormalities / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013905:Thoracoplasty; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014797:Vital Capacity