What is pectus excavatum surgery?

Also known as: Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum, pectus excavatum surgery.

The Nuss Procedure for pectus excavatum is a medical procedure used to treat pectus excavatum, also known as funnel chest or sunken chest. In our country, about two thirds of these deformities present during the adolescent growth spurt, while one third of patients have the problem from infancy.

Approximately one in 1,000 children suffers from pectus excavatum, a congenital deformity of the chest in which the sternum or breastbone faces inward, applying pressure to the heart and lungs. This disorder can restrict the growth of the vital chest organs, becoming more serious as a child grows up. Symptoms of this disorder may include chest pain, mitral valve prolapse, heart palpitations, respiratory disease and exercise intolerance.

Our pediatric surgical team has applied an innovative surgical treatment to correct this condition, with numerous benefits to young patients. Using the minimally invasive Nuss procedure children usually can return to their normal activities in about a month.

Pectus excavatum correction, before and after surgery.

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Reviewed by: Cathy Anne Burnweit, MD

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM