The The Sandwich Technique For Minimally Invasive Repair Of Pectus Carinatum.

INTRODUCTION: Minimally invasive repair of pectus carinatum (MIRPC) has been performed using the Abramson technique in which the bar that compresses the sternum is fixed with steel wires on the ribs. A 14-year-old patient underwent to a MIRPC using a sandwich technique in which two metallic bars fixed with bridges were implanted below the sternum under thoracoscopic vision, and another bar in a subcutaneous tunnel was implanted above. This technique has the potential to avoid specific problems related to the original technique like loosening of support for correction (broken wire), avoidance of induction of pectus excavatum or subcutaneous tissue adhesion.

A 1-Day-Old Girl With Infantile Hemangioma and Sternal Cleft.

CASE PRESENTATION: A newborn girl presented to the hospital on the first day of life because of respiratory failure. She was born at home at 37 weeks' gestation with minimal prenatal care and was found to be small for gestational age. The patient was found to have partial sternal agenesis and sternal cleft, cutis aplasia, left facial hemangioma, micrognathia, wide-spaced nipples, and low-set ears. The mother's and baby's urine toxicology screening were positive for amphetamines. Chest radiographs on admission showed bilateral hazy opacities. CT scan of the chest showed an absent sternum with midline chest wall concavity. The patient was monitored preoperatively in the cardiac ICU for risks of arrythmia, respiratory failure, altered cardiac output, and acute cardiopulmonary decompensation.

A minimally invasive hybrid procedure to correct pectus arcuatum.

BACKGROUND: Pectus arcuatum, also known as horns of steer anomaly or Currarino-Silverman Syndrome, is a distinct chest wall anomaly characterized by severe manubriosternal angulation, a shortened sternum, and mild pectus excavatum. The anomaly is typically repaired using open techniques, employing orthopedic fixation devices. Here, we report the results of a minimally invasive hybrid procedure to repair pectus arcuatum. METHODS: The procedure combines a standard Nuss procedure to correct the depressed sternum with a short upper chest (in boys) or inter-mammary (in girls) incision for bilateral subperichondrial resection of the upper costal cartilages, osteotomy, and correction of the manubrial angulation. The medical records of all patients who underwent the procedure over the last 10 years were reviewed. RESULTS: Five patients, 3 boys and 2 girls, aged 14 to 17 years, underwent the procedure. Three patients had their pectus bars removed 3-4 years after repair. Follow-up after correction ranged from 6 months to 7 years. Good correction resulted in all patients achieving recovery without complications and recurrence. To date, all patients have been satisfied with their results. CONCLUSIONS: The minimally invasive hybrid procedure adequately corrects pectus arcuatum with minimal scarring and high satisfaction.

Sternal cleft and pectus excavatum: an overlooked congenital association?

BACKGROUND: Sternal cleft (SC), a rare thoracic malformation, is associated with pectus excavatum (PE) in 2.6-5% of cases. It remains unclear if these conditions are congenitally linked or if SC repair triggers PE. To investigate the potential higher frequency of PE in SC cases, we conducted a retrospective study of our SC patients. METHODS: We assessed PE incidence, progression, and management in SC patients treated at our institute from 2006 to 2022. When available, we collected pre-SC repair CT scan data, calculating the Haller Index (HI) and Correction Index (CI) and compared them to a selected control group. RESULTS: Among 8 SC patients, 7 had concomitant PE (87.5%), varying in severity. PE management ranged from observation to thoracoplasty, depending on its degree. We observed a significant pre-operative CI difference between SC and control group patients (p < 0.00001). In the last two SC repair cases, we attempted concurrent PE prevention or treatment. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest an underestimated association between PE and SC in the existing literature. SC patients may exhibit a predisposition to PE from birth, which may become more apparent with growth after SC repair. Consequently, PE prevention or treatment should be considered during SC repair procedures.

Sternal lifting technique for patients with sternal depression during robotic mitral repair.

INTRODUCTION: Traditional surgical methods have been difficult for patients with chest wall deformities, but the use of the Electrical Sternum Lifting System (ESLS) has made the surgery easier. MATERIALS AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUE: Patients with a sternum-to-vertebral distance of less than 80 mm on preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan routinely underwent sternal lift using the ESLS. The ESLS was effective in securing the operative field while suspending the sternum, allowing adequate observation of the left atrium, left ventricle, and the mitral valve, and safe mitral valve plasty. The use of the lifting device did not interfere with the robot arms, and the space between the sternum and vertebrae was widened with only a 3 mm wound to move the mitral valve surface in the sagittal plane, making the repair easy and accurate under robotic assistance. The effort to attach the ESLS was not difficult, and the postoperative cosmetic outcomes were excellent. Sixty-three out of 1002 patients (6.3%) underwent sternal elevation using ESLS. There were 19 males and 44 females with a mean age of 50.9 ± 14.0 years. The average of sternum-to-vertebral (S/V) distance was 72.4 ± 8.9 cm. Two patients had S/V distance of more than 80 mm but ESLS was used because of scoliosis.

Sternal cleft reconstruction with acellular dermal matrix and full-thickness calvarial graft.

We describe reconstruction of a sternal cleft in a neonate using acellular dermal matrix, full-thickness calvarial bone graft and myocutaneous pectoralis flaps.

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.

Primary closure of a sternal cleft in the neonatal period.

Sternal cleft is a rare malformation of the midline fusion of the sternal bars; the most common form is the superior partial defect. Surgical correction with primary closure is the gold standard. It is recommended that the procedure be performed before 3 months of age because of the greater compliance and maximal flexibility of the thoracic wall.  These features ensure a safer repair with a low risk of complications and allow for a less extensive procedure that does not require the use of additional techniques. A midline incision is performed in the anterior thoracic wall, and the major pectoralis flaps are raised. The main surgical goal is to change the remaining sternum from a U to a V shape. Transfixing interrupted sutures are placed in the cartilaginous borders for midline closure. Hemodynamics and ventilation are monitored at this time. Closure is performed by layers.

Congenital Superior Sternal Cleft Isolated in a Newborn: Report of a Rare Case and a Literature Review.

BACKGROUND Sternal cleft is a greatly rare congenital thoracic deformity, arising from a failure of the sternal bars fusion process that should be completed in the fetal period, the incidence of which is less than 0.15%. CASE REPORT Herein, we present a case report of a newborn girl having a superior congenital sternal cleft. After the baby was born, scar-like tissue was found in the middle of the chest and extended to the root of the umbilical cord. Based on the imaging data, this newborn was diagnosed with sternal cleft belonging to the superior sternal cleft and not associated with other congenital deformities. CONCLUSIONS As a rare congenital thoracic deformity, postpartum diagnosis of the sternal cleft mainly is currently based on medical imaging, including thoracic computed tomography (CT), three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction CT, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Sternum cleft not only affects the aesthetic appearance but also leads to the destruction of the bone structure of the thorax, resulting in opposing thoracic movements. Therefore, early diagnosis and early treatment play significant roles in the treatment of this congenital sternal deformity. Regardless of whether there are clinical symptoms of sternal cleft, primary repair surgery must be done as soon as possible and during the neonatal period is best, in which simple surgical techniques achieve remarkable effects.

Trifid and ventrally curved xiphoid process with two sternal foramina.

In this report, we present the case of a 56-year-old man with an asymptomatic, ventrally curved, trifid xiphoid process with two foramina found incidentally during a CT screening. The objective of this report is to advance the knowledge and recognition of such variations and to discuss the clinical relevance. The xiphoid process was trifid with two xiphoid foramina, one above the other, between the middle and right processes. The right process was longest (approximately 4 cm) and the middle process, the shortest (approximately 2 cm). The upper xiphoid foramen was larger (approximately 0.5 cm) than the lower one (approximately 0.3 cm). No additional musculoskeletal variations were observed on imaging. In summary, this constellation of distinctive variations of the xiphoid process in a single individual provide an opportunity to further discuss the development of the sternum, associated anatomical variations, and potential clinical ramifications from such variations in hopes of advancing knowledge and recognition of such anomalies for clinicians.

Non-Tumorous Diseases of the Sternum and Its Articulations: At the Front Gate of the Chest.

Abnormalities of the sternal and peri-sternal regions are commonly seen in clinical practice and may be one of the important causes of chest pain particularly anterior chest wall pain. While reading computed tomography (CT) of the chest for evaluation of chest pain, the sternal region is either easily overlooked or its abnormality is often detected incidentally. This article will provide an overview of normal sternal anatomy and congenital variants as well as a variety of non-tumorous pathologic conditions of the sternum and adjacent joints, with emphasis on CT, to help radiologists, particularly thoracic radiologists, to make an accurate diagnosis in their daily practice. Non-tumorous abnormalities include trauma (fractures and dislocations), infection (osteomyelitis, septic arthritis), degenerative (osteoarthritis) and inflammatory conditions (rheumatoid arthritis, seronegative arthritides), and metabolic disorders (Paget's disease and renal osteodystrophy) as well as treatment related changes such as poststernotomy and its complications (dehiscence, nonunion) and postradiation changes of the sternum.

Minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum by the Nuss procedure: The learning curve.

OBJECTIVES: To define the learning process of minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum by the Nuss procedure through assessment of consecutive procedural metrics. METHODS: A single-center retrospective observational cohort study was conducted of all consecutive Nuss procedures performed by individual surgeons without previous experience between June 2006 and December 2018. Surgeons were proctored during their initial 10 procedures. The learning process after the proctoring period was evaluated using nonrisk-adjusted cumulative sum (ie, observed minus expected) failure charts of complications. An acceptable and unacceptable complication rate of 10% and 20% were used. Logarithmic trend lines were used to assess over-time performance regarding operation time. RESULTS: Two-hundred twenty-two consecutive Nuss procedures by 3 general thoracic surgeons were evaluated. Cumulative sum charts showed an average performance from the first procedure after being proctored onward for all surgeons, whereas surgeon B demonstrated a statistically significant complication rate equal to or less than 10% after 59 cases. Post-hoc sensitivity analyses using a stricter acceptable and unacceptable complication rate of 6% and 12% also showed an average performance for all surgeons. Although, the median time between consecutive procedures ranged from 7 to 35 days, no frequency-outcome relationship was observed. In addition, surgeons required the same average operation time throughout their entire experience. CONCLUSIONS: After a 10-procedure proctoring period, repair of pectus excavatum by the Nuss procedure is a safe procedure to adopt and perform without a typical (complication based) learning curve while performing at least 1 procedure per 35 days.

Ectopia Cordis Sternal Cleft Repair With Mandibular Distractors: A Follow-Up Case Report.

A neonate with thoracic ectopia cordis presented following an uncomplicated delivery. A mandibular distractor was placed to bridge the sternal cleft and retracted (reverse distractor activation) over 24 days to facilitate sternal closure. Follow-up at five years postoperatively demonstrated a well-healed sternum. This novel approach to ectopia cordis repair facilitates slow, steady physiologic accommodation of the heart without hemodynamic instability or long-term complications.

Surgical Management of Total Sternal Cleft in a Pentalogy of Cantrell Neonate.

Sternal cleft is a rare malformation with significant morbidity and mortality. It has been associated with other midline fusion defects, most significantly Cantrell's pentalogy, involving the sternum, pericardium, heart, diaphragm, and abdominal wall. This study reported a successfully managed case of a newborn with a total sternal cleft and Cantrell's pentalogy. A review of literature and pertinent management principles was also conducted.

The Epidemiology behind Pectus Excavatum: Clinical Study and Review of the Literature.

INTRODUCTION: Pectus excavatum (PE) is a funnel-shaped indentation of the sternum and is the most common deformity of the chest wall. It is associated with syndromic diseases but can occur as an isolated form. Familial occurrence is assumed in up to 40% of cases, but large-scale studies are lacking. Most of the data are obtained from case reports which postulate autosomal recessive, dominant with reduced penetrance, X-linked, and multifactorial patterns of inheritance. No monogenetic cause has been identified to date. This study was designed to provide basic information on the epidemiology, family history, and comorbidity for a large cohort of isolated PE and to show that there is an inheritance pattern for PE that indicates a genetic background. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was done using a paper-based questionnaire for all PE patients attending two specialized centers for chest wall deformities. Patients with isolated PE were included and asked to provide information on family history and comorbidities. RESULTS: Family history was available for 78 patients. A positive family history was found in 42 patients (54%) with a total of 53 affected family members. CONCLUSION: The described family histories indicate an underlying genetic cause for PE. Identification of the genetic factors may contribute to characterize patients who are at risk of inheriting isolated PE.

A case report of surgical repair of cleft sternum in a child.

BACKGROUND: Sternal cleft is a rare congenital chest wall defect, occurring in only 1 in 100,000 live births, and very few cases have been described in the literature. Surgery is indicated to protect the heart and major vessels. This study provides a clinical case presentation and literature review of sternal cleft. METHODS: This is a review of a case presenting with chest wall defects. The patient underwent a primary cleft closure at Children's Hospital No. 2. All perioperative data were collected and presented. CASE PRESENTATION: A healthy 3-year-old girl was admitted to Children's Hospital No. 2 with an abnormal chest shape, observed by her mother. An inverted "U"-shaped defect of the sternum was visible, and the extent of the defect could be observed by chest X-ray and spiral computed tomography (CT) imaging of the chest. After the diagnosis was confirmed, the patient was prepared for primary closure surgery. We achieved primary closure, the patient discontinued oxygen 5 days after surgery, and the patient was discharged 14 days after surgery. CONCLUSION: Chest wall malformations can present with various phenotypes, although congenital sternal cleft is a rare anomaly. This defect is often asymptomatic. Depending on the size of the defect, a sternal cleft may be treated or monitored. The optimal treatment during early life is surgical repair to achieve primary closure.

[Subtotal sternal agenesis with ectopia cordis: surgical management and long-term outcome (a case in Benin)]. / Agénésie sternale subtotale avec ectopia cordis: gestion chirurgicale et résultat à long terme (à propos d´un cas au Bénin).

Sternal agenesis as well as ectopia cordis are extremely rare congenital malformations. We here report a single case treated in the Department of Paediatric Surgery in Benin. The study involved a 3-year-old girl with congenital sternal agenesis associated with ectopia cordis; firstly, she underwent controlled healing. Then thoracoplasty was performed with favourable outcome. Long-term results are good. Now, she is 13 years old, is attending school and has a satisfactory clinical condition. This is one of the few cases reported in the literature. Optimal therapeutic management has been keeping the patient alive in West Africa.

A 4-day-old newborn with an isolated sternal cleft: A rare case and literature review.

An isolated sternal cleft is an orphan congenital defect of the sternum that presents from birth to adulthood. We report the case of a 4-day-old newborn with an isolated congenital cleft sternum. We also reviewed the related literature and operative options.