Repair of a complete sternal cleft in a five-month-old female infant.

Failed midline ventral fusion of sternal bars is the cause of complete sternal cleft, which is a rare congenital anomaly that may cause cardiopulmonary compromise. Very few cases of complete sternal cleft have been reported so far in the literature. Surgical correction is recommended to protect mediastinal structures and to restore respiratory dynamics. Herein, we present a case of complete sternal cleft in a five-month-old female infant which was repaired using patch, titanium plate, and bilateral pectoralis muscular flap.

A Huge Osteochondroma With Chest Wall Deformity Arising From the Ventral Scapula.

Osteochondromas (OC), or exostoses, are developmental defects rather than true neoplasms. Misdirected physeal bone growths give rise to OC. It causes cartilage-capped bony extensions to emerge from the lateral outlines of endochondral bones. We discuss a case of OC in a 35-year-old female who presented with severe chest wall deformity and breathlessness due to compromised left lung function. CT scan showed a vast osteochondroma arising from the ventral surface of the scapula, which was palpable in the supra mammary region on the left side. The tumor mass was completely excised from the base of the stalk. Her breathlessness and compromised left lung function returned to normal in the post-op period. However, the chest deformity was corrected over two months. The article provides insights into the presentation in a patient with such a massive tumor due to its location. Surgical excision should be the treatment of choice for huge osteochondromas.

Rib Reduction Technique in Patients with Isolated Chondrocostal Chest Wall Prominence Undergoing Breast Augmentation.

INTRODUCTION: When planning for breast augmentation, it is important to consider not only implant choice, surgical technique and patient desires, but also the chest wall shape and deformities or irregularities, which remain often underestimated. They can be responsible for implant malposition and breast asymmetry after augmentation. Chondrocostal junction prominence is a minor but frequent chest wall deformity. The aim of this study is to report a new technique for sculpturing isolated chondrocostal prominence deformities in patients undergoing breast augmentation. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted to review surgical outcomes of a novel technique for costal prominence sculpturing and reshaping in patients undergoing breast augmentation. After reaching the subpectoral space, an inferiorly-based perichondral-periosteal flap is harvested just above the prominence. Once the deformity is corrected, the perichondral flap is repositioned over the sculpted rib. RESULTS: A total of six patients presenting with isolated chondrocostal prominence underwent bilateral breast implant placement and costal reduction using the described technique. Three patients were primary augmentations while the remaining patients were two secondary breast augmentation and one augmentation mastopexy. No complications were reported. No additional pain was referred at the side of rib remodelling in comparison with the contralateral breast. All the patients were satisfied with cosmetic results. CONCLUSIONS: The described technique for contouring of isolated chondrocostal deformities is fast, easy reproducible and offers advantages over the standard partial rib reduction technique. It can prevent implant malposition and projection asymmetry, eventually enhancing breast augmentation outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Post bar removal results of pectus deformity patients who underwent minimally invasive correction.

Introduction: The most common chest wall deformities are pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum. Surgical repair of these deformities via minimally invasive technique using pectus bars is commonly preferred by numerous thoracic surgeons. Despite this common choice for treatment, the duration of the bar stay, the bar removal process, the possible complications and ways to prevent them have been debated over the years and still there is no single decision. Aim: To determine the decision making, surgical outcomes and negative factors in the bar removal process. Material and methods: There were 1032 patients underwent bar removal between 2006-2020 and their data was recorded prospectively. We analyzed patients' demographics, family history, Haller index, bar count, body mass index, stabilizer and wire usage, length of hospital stay, time until bar removal, incision side and complications retrospectively. Results: There was no significant correlation between BMI and surgery time (p = 0.748). There was no statistically significant correlation between the age groups and the number of pectus bars removed. The other factors showed no significant difference. The surgery time was found to be significantly longer in those with callus tissue (p = 0.002). Conclusions: These findings suggest that pectus bars can be left in place for a shorter time than the standard 3-year interval without any additional recurrence risk and without compromising quality of life. As a result, patients with persistent pain after pectus repair should be well evaluated for the possibility of life-threatening complications during bar removal.

Modification of the Abramson procedure for minimally invasive repair of pectus carinatum: introduction of a pectus carinatum compression system.

Pectus carinatum is characterized by a protruding sternum. This deformity can be surgically corrected through the minimally invasive Abramson technique. In this procedure, a presternal metal correctional bar, secured to rib-attached stabilizers, is implanted to redress the sternum to a neutral position. To anticipate the intended position of the sternum, manual compression is applied over the sternal deformity. We describe a modified version of the Abramson procedure, encompassing a table-mounted PectusAssist™ System which generates a constant mechanical compression over the protruding sternum. The PectusAssist™ System, most importantly, eliminates the necessity of manually applying repetitive pressure on the deformity, and therefore maintains a more stable sternal position. This will ensure accuracy of the template used to bend the bar into its desired configuration. The modification we propose also simplifies presternal tunnel creation as the two bilateral retromuscular tunnels, that need to be connected presternally, are potentially better aligned due to a more stable and reduced position of the sternum. The PectusAssist™ System makes the procedure less labor intensive and reduces variability without interfering with the safety of the procedure. Therefore, we advise standard use of the PectusAssist™ System during minimally invasive repair of pectus carinatum by the Abramson procedure.

Ectopia cordis: prenatal diagnosis, perinatal outcomes, and postnatal follow-up of an international multicenter cohort case series.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze prenatal diagnosis, perinatal outcomes, and postnatal follow-up in fetuses with ectopia cordis (EC). METHODS: This retrospective analysis accessed 31 patients with EC who were either diagnosed or referred to a tertiary Fetal Medicine centers for EC diagnosis in Brazil, Germany, Italy, and Poland. We analyzed prenatal diagnosis, perinatal outcomes, and follow-up in these patients. RESULTS: Our study included a cohort of 31 fetuses with EC, 4 and 27 of whom had partial and complete protrusion of the heart through a ventral defect in the thoracoabdominal wall, respectively. EC was diagnosed by fetal echocardiography at a mean gestational age of 20.3 ± 8.6 weeks (range, 8-35 weeks). Of the four cases, in which the karyotype was performed, all of them had a normal result (1 - 46,XX and 3 - 46,XY). Five patients showed conotruncal abnormalities and six ventricular septal defects. Termination of pregnancy (TOP) was performed in 15 cases (48%) and seven pregnant women had spontaneous fetal demise (22.5%). Of the seven fetuses that were born alive, four of them died, and three infants underwent surgery. Among these three infants, all of them survived, one was 5 months, 13 years old and 29 years old at the time of study completion. CONCLUSIONS: Ectopia cordis is associated with high mortality rates and intracardiac/extra-cardiac defects. Ventricular septal defects and conotruncal anomalies were the more common intracardiac defects associated with EC. However, in this cohort of fetuses with EC the incidence of PC was lower than reported in the literature.

Incidence of chest wall deformity in 15,862 students in the province of Sivas, Türkiye.

Background: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of chest deformity in middle- and high-school students in Sivas province of Turkey, to identify the risk factors associated with the psychological and physical disorders caused by the deformity, and to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment guidance by increasing awareness of this problem. Methods: Between October 2011 and May 2012, a total of 15,862 students (8,508 males, 7,354 females; mean age: 15.9±1.3 years; range, 12 to 19 years) from public schools were included. A number of schools were randomly selected for study, and the students were screened by physical examination. A study protocol was developed in which patients with deformities were questioned about family history and symptoms. Results: Chest wall deformity was detected in a total of 250 students (1.6%). The prevalence rates of pectus carinatum and pectus excavatum in the children were 0.7% and 0.6%, respectively. The overall prevalence of chest wall deformity was 1.6%. Conclusion: Chest wall deformity is more common in boys and pectus carinatum is the most common deformity type. Chest wall deformity is more common in the 15-16 age group and female sex is a risk factor for psychological discomfort.

Evaluating Cardiac Lateralization by MRI to Simplify Estimation of Cardiopulmonary Impairment in Pectus Excavatum.

BACKGROUND: The severity of pectus excavatum is classified by the Haller Index (HI) and/or Correction Index (CI). These indices measure only the depth of the defect and, therefore, impede a precise estimation of the actual cardiopulmonary impairment. We aimed to evaluate the MRI-derived cardiac lateralization to improve the estimation of cardiopulmonary impairment in Pectus excavatum in connection with the Haller and Correction Indices. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included a total of 113 patients (mean age = 19.03 ± 7.8) with pectus excavatum, whose diagnosis was verified on cross-sectional MRI images using the HI and CI. For the development of an improved HI and CI index, the patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing to assess the influence of the right ventricle's position on cardiopulmonary impairment. The indexed lateral position of the pulmonary valve was utilized as a surrogate parameter for right ventricle localization. RESULTS: In patients with PE, the heart's lateralization significantly correlated with the severity of pectus excavatum (p ≤ 0.001). When modifying HI and CI for the individual's pulmonary valve position, those indices are present with greater sensitivity and specificity regarding the maximum oxygen-pulse as a pathophysiological correlate of reduced cardiac function (χ2 10.986 and 15.862, respectively). CONCLUSION: The indexed lateral deviation of the pulmonary valve seems to be a valuable cofactor for HI and CI, allowing for an improved description of cardiopulmonary impairment in PE patients.

Combined Repair of Upper Sternal Cleft and Pectus Excavatum in a Child.

Sternal cleft accompanied by pectus excavatum is a rare type of congenital anomaly of the chest wall. Surgical correction is a suitable approach to restore the heart, large vessels, and respiratory dynamics early. This is a report of the successful surgical correction of upper sternal cleft anomaly accompanied by pectus excavatum in a child. The pectus excavatum was corrected without the use of any prosthesis. The cleft was closed by primary approximation with enough dissected pectoralis major muscle and partial thymectomy, mobility, and flexibility ensured by pectus correction. The integrity of the sternum and the chest wall was normal at the end of the 12-month follow-up period.

Minimally invasive repair of pectus carinatum with a new steel bar.

Background: Currently, the anti-Nuss operation is widely used as standard surgery for pectus carinatum, but the installation and removal of the Nuss steel bars can be difficult, time-consuming and traumatic. To further simplify the procedure, we designed a new steel bar to facilitate minimally invasive surgical correction of pectus carinatum. Methods: From January 2018 to July 2021, 112 patients underwent minimally invasive repair of pectus carinatum (MIRPC) with the new steel bar in our centre. Two generations of bars were designed during our study period, and symmetric and asymmetric deformities were treated. After 2 years of follow-up, the bar and stabilizers were removed. The effects and complications of minimally invasive repair using the new bar to correct pectus carinatum were reviewed. Results: The mean patient age was 14.46 years. The mean operation duration was 67.74 minutes. The mean hospital length of stay was 3.64 days. The Haller index of the patients improved from 1.96 preoperatively to 2.78 postoperatively. The complications included pneumothorax, pleural effusion, wound infections, nickel allergy, screw loosening, wire breakdown, bar fraction and overcorrection leading to excavatum. Seventy-two patients (64.3%) underwent bar removal, with 63 patients (87.5%) achieving excellent or good results. The deformity recurred in 2 patients (2.8%) during follow-up. Conclusions: MIRPC with our newly designed steel bar can achieve good results and is effective in repairing both symmetric and asymmetric carinatum deformities.

Costal cartilage overgrowth does not induce pectus-like deformation in the chest wall of a rat model.

Overgrowth of the costal cartilages has been frequently reported to be an etiological factor of chest wall deformities in children. The present study aimed to investigate if induced overgrowth of the costal cartilages could lead to deformation of the chest wall in a rat model. An insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) solution was directly injected under the perichondrium of the last three costal cartilages of 2-week-old rat pups. Two different concentrations, 50 µg/ml (E50) and 100 µg/ml (E100), were applied. This procedure was repeated once per week for 5 consecutive weeks. Subsequently, 14 days after the last injection, all animals were euthanized before the shape of the thoracic cage was assessed, and the diameter was measured. In addition, the last three costal cartilages were dissected before the samples were prepared and examined by light microscopy. Rats that received E100 exhibited larger sagittal and coronal rib cage diameters compared with those in the E50 and control groups. However, no deformation could be observed in the chest wall. Microscopic examinations revealed an anabolic pattern in the E100 group. The present findings suggested that locally administered IGF1 stimulated cell proliferation and tissue growth in coastal cartilages in a dose-dependent manner in vivo. However, this induced overgrowth of the costal cartilages did not result in the deformation of the chest wall.

[Correction of pectus excavatum and long-term outcome in adult]. / Korrektsiya voronkoobraznoi deformatsii grudnoi kletki i otdalennye rezul'taty lecheniya u patsienta 50 let.

Pectus excavatum is the most common congenital chest malformation characterized by symmetrical or asymmetric depression of the chest with deformation of the sternocostal complex. Pectus excavatum is often associated with other dysplastic diseases of connective tissue. Ravitch thoracoplasty and Nuss minimally invasive correction are the most common today. The authors report surgical correction of PE in a 50-years-old male who underwent Ravitch modified thoracoplasty with implantation of shape memory plate. Long-term treatment outcomes and technical properties of the plate after removing are analyzed.

Minimally invasive repair of pectus carinatum by the Abramson method: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the outcomes after minimally invasive pectus cartinatum repair (MIRPC) by the Abramson method to determine its effectiveness. METHODS: The PubMed and Embase databases were systematically searched. Data concerning subjective postoperative esthetic outcomes after initial surgery and bar removal were extracted. In addition, data on recurrence, complications, operative times, blood loss, post-operative pain, length of hospital stay, planned time to bar removal and reasons for early bar removal were extracted. The postoperative esthetic result, was selected as primary outcome since the primary indication for repair in pectus carinatum is of cosmetic nature. RESULTS: Six cohort studies were included based on eligibility criteria, enrolling a total of 396 patients. Qualitative synthesis showed excellent to satisfactory esthetic results in nearly all patients after correctional bar placement (99.5%, n = 183/184). A high satisfaction rate of 91.0% (n = 190/209) was found in patients after bar removal. Recurrence rates were low with an incidence of 3.0% (n = 5/168). The cumulative postoperative complication rate was 26.5% (n = 105/396), of whom 25% required surgical re-intervention. There were no cases of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive repair of pectus carinatum through the Abramson method is effective and safe. Its efficacy is demonstrated by the excellent to satisfactory esthetic results in 99.5% and 91.0% of patients after respectively correctional bar placement and implant removal. Future studies should aim to compare different treatment options for pectus carinatum in order to elucidate the approach of choice for different patient groups.

Pectus cross bars increase hospital readmission rates due to serous pleural effusion.

OBJECTIVE: Pectus Excavatum's (PE) surgical treatment should be patient specific. In this article, we aimed to compare parallel and cross bar variations of the Nuss method and analyze if there is any difference in results. METHODS: In this study, a total of 891 patients treated with the Nuss method between August 2005 and February 2018 were considered. These were retrieved from a prospectively recorded PE database. Of these, 276 double-bar patients were included in the study. Patients with parallel bars (225 cases) and patients with crossed bars (51 cases) were compared in terms of age, gender, symmetry, family history, additional anomalies, mean operation time, postoperative hospital stay (days) and hospital readmission rate. RESULTS: The mean age was measured at 20.7 for parallel bar patients and 20.1 for crossed bars patients. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of age, gender, and mean operation time between two groups. On the other hand, statistical significance was found between two groups when analyzing the deformities' symmetry, patients' family history and additional anomalies. The statistically significant difference of postoperative hospital stay between two groups is clinically negligible. Postoperative hospital readmission rates due to serous pleural effusion were found to be significantly increased in patients with crossed bars (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: While pleural effusion requiring readmission was statistically more frequent in cross bars, in centers where thoracentesis can be managed, Nuss method can still be applied safely, even in cases with difficult, complex deformities. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III. Treatment study.

Hypoventilation Syndrome Secondary to Club-Shaped Chest Wall Deformity.

Hypoventilation syndrome is defined as a decrease in alveolar ventilation leading to hypercapnia (PaCO2 > 35-45 mmHg) and hypoxemia. There are multiple causes of hypoventilation syndrome described in the literature, of which central and obesity-related causes are more prevalent. Other causes such as neuromuscular disorders and chest wall deformities are relatively less common. Multiple defects in the normal functioning of the respiratory function are implicated in the pathophysiological mechanism of hypoventilation syndrome, such as a hypoactive central ventilatory drive, decreased airway function, ventilation-perfusion mismatch, defective pulmonary mechanics, and respiratory muscle fatigue. Patients often present with dyspnea, headache, lethargy, repeated pulmonary infections, hypoxia that usually improves with low flow oxygen, and hypercapnia that may alter mental function. Nocturnal or diurnal assisted mechanical ventilation is proven to be an effective therapy for patients suffering hypoventilation syndromes. We describe a case of a 47-year-old woman with hypoventilation syndrome resulting from a rare chest wall deformity with inward protrusion of the costochondral junction of the ribs with ossification of the costal cartilage on CT who presented with dyspnea and hypercapnia.

Successful surgical repair of a sternum cleft using composite mesh: A case report and new technical note.

Sternal clefts are infrequent congenital malformations, particularly in their complete presentation. There are less than 100 descriptions of these defects published in the literature worldwide. We report a clinical case of lower sternal cleft associated with congenital laparoschisis in a 2-year-old boy. Surgery was performed because of recurrent pneumopathy and the risk of cardiorespiratory decompensation in the midterm. A semi-resorbable prosthesis was used for sternal closure. We have not observed any complications with this sternal closure system in our patient. This approach is easy, safe, effective and not harmful to a child's growth.

Validation of questionnaire-reported chest wall abnormalities with a telephone interview in Swiss childhood cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: Chest wall abnormalities are a poorly studied complication after treatment for childhood cancer. Chest wall abnormalities are not well-described in the literature, and little is known on the impact on daily life of survivors. METHODS: We investigated prevalence and risk factors of chest wall abnormalities in childhood cancer survivors in a nationwide, population-based cohort study (Swiss Childhood Cancer Survivor Study) with a questionnaire survey. We then interviewed a nested sample of survivors to validate types of chest wall abnormalities and understand their impact on the daily life of survivors. RESULTS: Forty-eight of 2382 (95%CI 2-3%) survivors reported a chest wall abnormality. Risk factors were older age at cancer diagnosis (16-20 years; OR 2.5, 95%CI 1.0-6.1), lymphoma (OR 3.8, 95%CI 1.2-11.4), and central nervous system tumors (OR 9.5, 95%CI 3.0-30.1) as underlying disease, and treatment with thoracic radiotherapy (OR 2.0, 95%CI 1.0-4.2), surgery to the chest (OR 4.5, 95%CI 1.8-11.5), or chemotherapy (OR 2.9, 95%CI 1.0-8.1). The nature of the chest wall abnormalities varied and included thoracic wall deformities (30%), deformations of the spine (5%) or both (55%), and scars (10%). Chest wall abnormalities affected daily life in two thirds (13/20) of those who reported these problems and necessitated medical attention for 15 (75%) survivors. CONCLUSION: It is important that, during follow-up care, physicians pay attention to chest wall abnormalities, which are rare late effects of cancer treatment, but can considerably affect the well-being of cancer survivors.

Feasibility of structured light Plethysmography (SLP) in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, most institutions have changed the way patients are assessed or investigated. Using novel non-contact technology, it is possible to continuously monitor the lung function of peri-operative patients undergoing cardiothoracic procedures. Primarily, this results in increased patient surveillance, and therefore, safety. Many centres, globally, are starting to use structured light plethysmography (SLP) technology, providing a non-aerosol generating procedure in place of traditional spirometry. While more evidence is needed, our clinical usage; previous and on-going studies; demonstrate definite potential that SLP is a valuable tool.

Three-Dimensional Imaging of the Chest Wall: A Comparison Between Three Different Imaging Systems.

BACKGROUND: Three-dimensional (3D) imaging is being used progressively to create models of patients with anterior chest wall deformities. Resulting models are used for clinical decision-making, surgical planning, and analysis. However, given the broad range of 3D imaging systems available and the fact that planning and analysis techniques are often only validated for a single system, it is important to analyze potential intrasystem and intersystem differences. The objective of this study was to investigate the accuracy and reproducibility of three commercially available 3D imaging systems that are used to obtain images of the anterior chest wall. METHODS: Among 15 healthy volunteers, 3D images of the anterior chest wall were acquired twice per imaging device. Reproducibility was determined by comparison of consecutive images acquired per device while the true accuracy was calculated by comparison of 3D image derived and calipered anthropometric measurements. A maximum difference of 1.00 mm. was considered clinically acceptable. RESULTS: All devices demonstrated statistically comparable (P = 0.21) reproducibility with a mean absolute difference of 0.59 mm. (SD: 1.05), 0.54 mm. (SD: 2.08), and 0.48 mm. (SD: 0.60) for the 3dMD, EinScan Pro 2X Plus, and Artec Leo, respectively. The true accuracy was, respectively, 0.89 mm. (SD: 0.66), 1.27 mm. (SD: 0.94), and 0.81 mm. (SD: 0.71) for the 3dMD, EinScan, and Artec device and did not statistically differ (P = 0.085). CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional imaging of the anterior chest wall utilizing the 3dMD and Artec Leo is feasible with comparable reproducibility and accuracy, whereas the EinScan Pro 2X Plus is reproducible but not clinically accurate.