title: Quality of life improves after minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pectus excavatum is the most common chest wall deformity. This deformity may cause physical limitations and psychosocial problems. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum on the quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 88 patients, aged 18.44 ± 3.93 years (85.2% male), who underwent minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum; 40.9% had an associated anomaly or disease, and 17.0% had scoliosis. The patients and their parents completed the patient and parent forms of the Nuss questionnaire modified for adults preoperatively and 6 months after the operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients' median Nuss score increased from 31 (interquartile range 31-35) preoperatively to 43 (interquartile range 43-46) at 6 months after the operation (p = 0.000). The parents' preoperative score of 33 (interquartile range 29-36) increased to 38 (interquartile range 34-41; p = 0.000). Improvements in the physical and psychosocial component scores of the Nuss questionnaire were also significant in the patient (p = 0.000, p = 0.000, respectively) and parent forms (p = 0.005, p = 0.000, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum significantly improved the physical and psychosocial wellbeing of patients. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine the long-term changes related to quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey pnr.kuru@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Pinar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kuru
authors.affiliation: Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Korkut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bostanci
authors.affiliation: Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nezih Onur
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Ermerak
authors.affiliation: Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: A Tugba
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Bahadir
authors.affiliation: Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ceyda
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Afacan
authors.affiliation: Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yuksel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005660:Funnel Chest / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body image; Funnel Chest; Patient satisfaction; Quality of life; Questionnaires; Reconstructive surgical procedures