We have opened the "Pectus Excavatum Center," which can provide comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for pectus excavatum. Pectus excavatum is a congenital disorder, but many people, both children and adults, suffer from it. We examine those who have been diagnosed with pectus excavatum during a medical examination or who are troubled by a hollow in their chest, including determining whether treatment is necessary. Please feel free to consult us.

Our hospital has a thoracic surgery department that specializes in chest surgery, an orthopedic surgery department that specializes in bones, an anesthesiology department that specializes in anesthesia and pain management, a plastic surgery department that specializes in scars, and a rehabilitation center that specializes in respiratory rehabilitation.Since many of our target patients are children, our center has a pediatric surgeon with extensive experience in treating pectus excavatum who acts as the liaison for consultations and treatment.

What is pectus excavatum?

A deformity in which the center of the chest is sunken is called "pectus excavatum." It is believed to be caused by deformation of the costal cartilage, but there are many unknowns about this condition. Some people notice it from infancy, while others find it becomes more noticeable as they grow, but approximately1,000To people1It is said to occur at a frequency of 100% and is not a rare disease. Depending on the severity of the dents, cold symptoms may persist or asthma-like symptoms may appear, but in most cases, there are no other symptoms besides the dents. Even if there are no physical symptoms, the dents themselves can become a major psychological and social problem, especially during school-age and adolescent years.

Treatment details

Treatment options at our center include surgical and non-surgical options.
Surgical treatment is1998In the year of the United StatesNussWe will perform a minimally invasive surgical technique called thoracoscopic sternal lift, also known as Nass surgery, which is a minimally invasive surgical technique reported by Dr.3~4cmThe procedure involves making an incision in the skin, then embedding a metal bar in the chest to lift the anterior chest from the inside, thereby correcting the depression. Unlike conventional methods, the ribs and sternum are not cut, so the surgery takes less time, there is less bleeding, and the scars are less noticeable. The size of the metal bar varies depending on the patient's age, but1From a year and a half3It will be removed after a year.

About anesthesia

The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Since this is a surgery to correct bones, there will be severe pain after the surgery. To suppress this pain, epidural anesthesia is administered.(Anesthesia involves inserting a thin tube between the spine to continuously deliver painkillers)are used in combination.

Cases

Each case shows the condition before and immediately after surgery.

Case 1

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Case 2

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Conservative treatment (non-surgical treatment)

Exercise therapy

Exercises that open up the chest, such as swimming, increase lung capacity and improve the shape of the chest. While they are somewhat effective, they do not significantly improve the hollowness of the chest itself. Another problem is that people with pectus excavatum often dislike swimming.

posture therapy

Many patients with pectus excavatum have a hunched back, which makes the depression in their chest even more noticeable. If you stick out your chest and take deep breaths, the depression will become less noticeable. Also, making an effort to stick out your chest before and after surgery will improve your posture and prevent the bar from slipping.

Negative pressure suction therapy (Vacuum Bell, Pectus Egg)

This method involves attaching a large suction cup to the anterior chest wall to apply negative pressure and lift the chest wall.1It needs to be done for several hours every day. It is not as effective as surgery, but it has been shown to be effective for people with mild depressions. Since it needs to be done every day, you will need to purchase equipment.

For those considering outpatient treatment for pectus excavatum

It is best to perform surgery at an age when the costal cartilage is still soft, but we ask that you avoid surgery at an age where the patient will not be able to remain still after surgery and will not cooperate. Also, if surgery is performed too early, the depression may progress again. Therefore, we believe that surgery is best performed after the fourth grade of elementary school.
On the other hand, once a student reaches high school age or older, their ribs and cartilage become hard, so they may need to insert two or more metal bars or make small cuts in their ribs to create a beautiful chest shape.Our hospital has a wide range of patients, from elementary school students to adults, who undergo surgery.Patients may have school holidays or work commitments, so we discuss a date and time that is convenient for them.

We also offer non-surgical treatments such as negative pressure suction therapy (vacuum bell). In our pectus excavatum outpatient clinic, we discuss the necessity of treatment according to the patient's condition, so if you are concerned about pectus excavatum, please feel free to consult us.

Medical Information

Contact Information

2nd floor B block reception
Phone 06-6312-8827