title: Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Carinatum in Patients Unsuited to Bracing Therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We used an Abramson technique for minimally invasive repair of pectus carinatum in patients who preferred surgery to brace therapy, had been unsuccessfully treated via brace therapy, or were unsuitable for brace therapy because of a rigid chest wall.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between July 2011 and May 2015, 16 patients with pectus carinatum underwent minimally invasive surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the patients was 24.35±13.20 years (range, 14-57 years), and all patients were male. The percentage of excellent aesthetic results, as rated by the patients, was 37.5%, and the percentage of good results was 56.25%. The preoperative and postoperative Haller Index values were 2.01±0.19 (range, 1.60-2.31), and 2.22±0.19 (range, 1.87-2.50), respectively (p-value=0.01), and the median hospital stay was 7.09±2.91 days (range, 5-15 days). Only one patient experienced postoperative complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minimally invasive repair is effective for the treatment of pectus carinatum, even in adult patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Jee-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Seok
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Geun Dong
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Seok Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Haam
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Sungsoo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Adult; Chest wall deformity; Minimally invasive surgery; Nuss operation; Pectus carinatum