PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Kostic, Marko
AU  - Jovanovic, Branislav
AU  - Atanasijadis, Nikola
AU  - Popovic, Marko
AU  - Asujic, Dragana
TI  - One-institution initial experience with Nuss procedure on eleven patients
AID  - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2015.PA1512
DP  - 2015 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - PA1512
VI  - 46
IP  - suppl 59
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA1512.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA1512.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2015 Sep 01; 46
AB  - Objectives: the Nuss procedure is a new minimally invasive technique for the repair of pectus excavatum. Although widely accepted, some aspects of the real benefitt over the modified Ravitch procedure are still to be clarified.Methods: we describe early one-institution results in the period April 2013-Seprember 2014. Eleven patients were operated, aged 17-29,5 years (mean 20,3years). There were 9 males and 2 females. Preoperative work up consisted of clinical examination, chest x-ray, echocardiography, CT of the thorax and spirometry.Results: Haller's CT index ranged from 2,9-7,5 (average 4,15). Average operative time was 1h15minmin and all patients were extbated in t he operating room. In all but one patients, a single support bar (13-17inches) was used, with stabilizer on the right side. In one patient two pectus bars were placed. The hospital stay was 8-12 days. After one month, patients could resume their usual activities, and after 3 months, they gained full physical competence. Early postoperative complications included 3 pleural effusion, one was resolved sponaneuosly and two with several plural punctions. One delayed complication was bending of a inplanted bar, one month after the procedure.Conclusion: owing to short operating time, no need for costal cartilages resection and better cosmetic results, the Nuss procedure is very suitable for symetric chest deformities. However, its use should be carefully evaluated in young adults.