Minimal access treatment of pectus carinatum: a preliminary report.
BACKGROUND
Unlike the minimal access repair of pectus excavatum (PE), a minimal access repair of pectus carinatum (PC) has not been established. This initial experience reports the correction of PC using a minimal access technique in five patients.


METHODS
The procedure was performed by insertion of a pectus bar through either bilateral or only left midaxillary incision. The pectus bar was placed so that the elevated sternum could be depressed. Thoracoscopy was not employed during the procedures and no stabiliser plates were used. On completion of the procedure, a chest tube was inserted into the thoracic cavity to evacuate the air from the thoracic cavity followed by wound closure.


RESULTS
The operation time ranged from 75 to 110 min. The chest tube was removed on the second postoperative day and the patients were discharged between the fifth and seventh postoperative day. There was one dislocation in which the bar was finally removed, and in three patients a prolapse of the end of the strut through intercostal space necessitated refixation using wires.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite a small series, this method offers a minimal access repair of PC, which is comparable to the technique used for PE. The invasiveness of our method is obviously far less, than of those different open surgical techniques performed worldwide presently. Our postoperative results warrant the application of this technique in patients with PC.
Hock
András
A
Department of Paediatric Surgery, University Children's Hospital, Medical University of Pécs, Pecs, Hungary. hockandras@yahoo.com
D000293:Adolescent; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D009139:Musculoskeletal Abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013249:Sternum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome