Surgical Treatment of Pectus Excavatum / 대한흉부외과학회지

ABSTRACT

The pectus excavatum is the most common deformity of chest wall. The most common cause of surgical correction is cosmetic problem. From January 1981 to July 1996, 24 patients had undergone surgery for pectus excavatum and they were corrected by Ravitch operation (n=4) or modified Wada operation (n=20) respectively. We analyzed each surgical cases according to age, sex, chief complaint, degree of deformity, EKG findings, complications and satisfaction degree of patient. In some cases, we measured Welch index preoperatively and postoperatively. The postoperative complications were wound infection in two, pneumothorax in two and reccurrence in one. The average value of Welch index was significantly improved from 5.86+/-0.51 preoperatively to 4.10+/-0.51 postoperatively (p<0.05). The results by Humphreys' criteria were satisfiable in 88% (excellent 71%, good 17%). The findings of this study suggest that surgical correction of pectus excavatum with modified Wada rocedure and submammary s in incision is effective method in physical and psychiatric aspect.