A disorder known as pectus excavatum occurs when a patient’s breastbone sinks into their chest. Pectus excavatum might appear as though the middle of the chest is already scooped out, producing a significant crater in extreme cases.
Although the depressed breastbone is commonly visible shortly after delivery, pectus excavatum usually increases during teenage growth.
Pectus excavatum, often known as funnel chest, is much more frequent in males than females. Severe forms of such pectus excavatum might eventually affect the heart or lungs’ ability to function. Even moderate occurrences of pectus excavatum, additionally, might make youngsters self-conscious regarding their looks. However, the malformation can be corrected with surgery.
Symptoms
The only indication or symptom of pectus excavatum is several people’s minor protrusion in the sternum. Adolescent years can exacerbate the severity of depression in certain people, and it can deteriorate until adulthood.
The breastbone can squeeze the heart and lungs in extreme pectus excavatum. The following are possible symptoms:
- Exercise tolerance has decreased.
- Heart palpitations or a rapid pulse
- Respiratory illnesses that recur
- Coughing or wheezing
- Pain in the chest
- a murmur in the heart
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
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Treatment
Surgery can be used to correct pectus excavatum, although it is usually reserved for those who have intermediate to severe indications and problems. Physiotherapy may help individuals who have modest signs and problems. Some exercises can help you improve your balance and expand your chest to a greater extent.
If the hollow in your chest is not causing any problems, but you are dissatisfied with the way it appears, speak to a doctor regarding having a silicon insertion — comparable to a breast implant — inserted beneath the skin to patch up the gap.
Surgery to repair the damage
The identities of the physicians who initially invented the predominant surgical methods to correct pectus excavatum are:
Nuss procedure; Small incisions on every part of the chest are used in this laparoscopic surgery. Long-handled instruments and a thin fiber-optic lens are introduced through all of the openings. A curving metal rod is inserted beneath it to lift the sunken breastbone towards a more regular place. Upwards of one bar may be utilized in some instances. After 2 – 3 years, the plates are removed.
Ravitch’s method. This older method necessitates a significantly bigger incision across the chest. The doctor removes the malformed cartilage that connects the ribcage to the inferior breastbone but then uses surgical equipment, including a metal strut and mesh plates, to reposition the breastbone towards a more regular place. In six to twelve months, the props are removed.
Regardless of whether treatment is utilized, most patients who have surgery to repair pectus excavatum are pleased with the results. In addition, although most pectus excavatum procedures are performed during adolescence, several adults have benefited from pectus excavatum surgery.
Cryoablation (temporary freezing of nerves to prevent pain) can aid healing and reduce surgical discomfort for 4 to 6 weeks.
Anatomik Modeling implants. Pectus Excavatum can be also corrected with 3D custom-made implants. The surgery lasts about 45 minutes and can be combined with other treatments (breast implants, fat transfer, pectoral implants) according to the patient’s needs.
The advantages of this surgical treatment are:
- The operation is personalized.
- The silicone prosthesis is flexible but solid, with a touch similar to that of the sternum. The implant is permanent.
- The edges of the implant adapt to the excavation and are covered by the musculature.
Surgery using Anatomik Modeling implants takes approximately 45 minutes. All physical exercise should be avoided for 8-12 weeks.
The implant can be combined with other treatments (fat transfer, pectoral prosthesis, etc.) depending on the patient’s needs.
The great advantage of treatment with a custom-made implant is that it is safe and simple. It avoids open chest surgeries and possible complications.
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How is pectus excavatum corrected in women?
The presence of the funnel chest in women is five times less frequent than in men.
In women, it affects breast development and produces very significant breast asymmetry. The correction operation manages to increase both self-esteem and body image.
The simplest cases can be treated satisfactorily with a breast implant. The fat graft also makes it possible to conceal the outline of the implant and thus obtain better symmetry.
In 2015, the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery company carried out a study of 47 women who underwent funnel chest correction in the same hospital from January 2010 to September 2013.
The surgery was performed in patients with an average age of 35 years (18 to 63 years). The results suggest that neither prior nor concurrent breast augmentation increased the risk of complications. The authors recommended that cosmetic breast surgery be performed at the same time as the correction of the Pectus Excavatum.
Future medicines that might be used
Doctors are presently researching suction and magnet therapy to elevate the sunken breastbone. These gadgets work much better in patients who are adolescents. The chest gets more stiff as age increases, limiting chest wall mobility.
Coping and assistance
Most teenagers want to blend in with their friends. However, for children with pectus excavatum, it can be pretty tough. Psychotherapy may be required in some circumstances to assist in developing coping skills. There are also online service forums and blogs where you may communicate with individuals going through similar issues.
Getting ready for your session
If you and your kid develop pectus excavatum, you should first talk to your doctor about it.
They may send you to a pediatric or thoracic surgeon specializing in your condition.
What you’ll do to help
You might wish to prepare a note that contains the following items:
Describe your indications and symptoms in detail.
Information regarding previous medical issues.
Details about medical issues that are prevalent in your household.
All of your and your child’s medicines and nutritional supplements.
You may have questions for the doctor, such as what therapies are available.
What to anticipate from your physician
A few of the vital information may be asked by your doctor:
When did you first notice these symptoms?
Have they become any worse recently?
Is there anybody in your family who has experienced a similar issue?
