Simplified Open Repair of Anterior Chest Wall Deformities in Adolescent and Adult Patients: Long-Term Results

Objective. Pectus deformities are the most frequently seen inborn anomalies of the chest wall. The cause of these conditions is thought to be a developmental disorder of rib cartilages. We here report our clinical experience and the results of a sternochondroplasty technique based on the subperichondrial resection of abnormal rib cartilages.Material and methods. During the period from October 2001 through September 2009, 205 adolescent and adult patients (171 male and 34 female) underwent pectus excavatum (181), carinatum (19) and arcuatum (5) repair. The patients’ pre and postoperative data were prospectively collected using a database, and the results were assessed with a minimum of 5-year follow-up.Results. The postoperative morbidity rate was minimal and the mortality was nil. The surgeon graded cosmetic results as excellent (72,5%), good (24,5%), fair (2,5%) or failure (0,5%) while patients reported better results. Patients with pectus excavatum were found to have much more patent foramen ovale than the normal adult population, which occluded after the procedure in 61% of patients, and significant improvement was found in cardiopulmonary exercise function and exercise tolerance at the 1-year follow-up.Conclusion. Our sternochondroplasty technique based on the subperichondrial resection of abnormal cartilages allows satisfactory repair of both pectus excavatum and sternal prominence. It is a safe procedure that might improve the effectiveness of surgical therapy in patients with pectus deformities.