Nuss operation for pectus excavatum: a single-institution experience.
BACKGROUND
The Nuss procedure for repair of pectus excavatum (PE) has been accepted worldwide because of minimal invasiveness and excellent cosmetic results. We summarized our experience with the treatment of 115 patients aged 2.7-18 years.


METHODS
All the 115 patients underwent the Nuss procedure successfully from July 2003 to February 2008. They were divided into two groups: children group (below 12 years) and adolescents group (aged 12-18 years).


RESULTS
The rate of complications was 14.7% and 37.5% in the children and adolescents groups, respectively (P<0.05). There was significant difference in operation time, length of hospital stay, and analgesic time between the two groups (P<0.05). The initial results of Nuss procedure were excellent.


CONCLUSIONS
The Nuss procedure can be performed with excellent early results in children. We suggest that children with PE should accept the Nuss procedure as early as possible when they are over 5 years old.
Mao
Yong-Zhong
YZ
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical Colleage, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China. maoyz68@yahoo.com.cn
Tang
Shao-Tao
ST
Wang
Yong
Y
Tong
Qiang-Song
QS
Ruan
Qing-Lan
QL
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005660:Funnel Chest / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome