title: Experience with a simple technique for pectus bar removal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There have been numerous reports of techniques used for pectus bar removal after correction of pectus excavatum. We use 2 operating tables positioned perpendicular to each other in a T-shaped configuration with the patients thorax circumferentially exposed so the bar is removed in 1 motion without bending the bar. In this study, we report the results of this procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review of patients undergoing bar removal after repair of pectus excavatum at our institution from August 2000 to March 2010 was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 230 patients with a mean age of 16.7 years (range, 7.8-25.3 years) at bar removal. Mean operative time for bar removal was 28.6 minutes, and average estimated blood loss (EBL) was 9.5 mL (range, 5-400 mL). One patient demonstrated significant hemorrhage from the bar tract after bar removal, which was controlled with circumferential compression wrap. Calcification was noted in 11 patients, and chondroma, in 8 patients. Wound infection after bar removal occurred in 3% of patients. No patient required the bar to be bent into a straight configuration for removal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Removal of pectus bars using this 2-table T-configuration technique is safe, is time efficient, and obviates the need for bending the bar.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA.
authors.forename: Frankie B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Fike
authors.forename: Vincent E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Mortellaro
authors.forename: Corey W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.forename: Susan W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Ostlie
authors.forename: George W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Holcomb
authors.forename: Ronald J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: Shawn D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: St Peter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005660:Funnel Chest / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult