Korean J Anesthesiol.  2008 Jun;54(6):646-650. 10.4097/kjae.2008.54.6.646.

Intraoperative and Postoperative Complications in the Patients Undergoing the Pectus Excavatum Repair by the Nuss Procedure: A Retrospective Study

• Chung JH
• Ahn KR
• Kim MN
• Kim CS
• Kang KS
• Yoo SH
• Chung JW
• Lee SJ

• KMID: 1763520
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2008.54.6.646

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The popularity and the demand for Nuss procedure have increased dramatically. Many pediatric surgeons became familiarized with Nuss procedure and have applied it to a large number of patients. But the intraoperative and the postoperative complications have not been defined yet.
METHODS
630 patients, who underwent the Nuss procedure between August 1999 and December 2006, were studied retrospectively. Risk factors and complications were obtained from chart review and anesthesia records, and analyzed statistically.
RESULTS
Complication rates were 127/630 (20.1%) in total patients. Frequent complications were arrhythmia 37 (5.8%), pneumothorax 29 (4.6%), pleural effusion 15 (2.4%), wound infection 14 (2.2%), bar displacement 13 (2%) and pericarditis 9 (1.3%) in order. Resk factors are severity of pectus excavatum and lack of surgeon's experience (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Nuss procedure has evolved into an effective method of pectus excavatum repair. To reduce the complications, there must be precise preoperative assessment of computed tomography index (CTI) and intensive postoperative management in the operative day.

Keyword

complications; Nuss procedure; pectus excavatum

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia
Arrhythmias, Cardiac
Displacement (Psychology)
Funnel Chest
Humans
Pericarditis
Pleural Effusion
Pneumothorax
Postoperative Complications
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Wound Infection