A recent study of 127 patients published in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery found that 1 year after surgical correction, physical activity caused fewer complaints and was associated with fewer difficulties in patients with Pectus excavatum (PE). We know that exercise is not a total fix for PE, but people with PE commonly engage in… Read More »
On December 20, 2018, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) issued an announcement that fluoroquinolone antibiotics “can increase the occurrence of rare but serious events of ruptures or tears in the main artery of the body, called the aorta.” This report was spurred by several recent publications demonstrating concern, particularly one large study of more than… Read More »
Be weary of online products or services that promise to help you fix your PE with exercise alone. From an evidence-based medicine perspective, it is currently unknown whether exercise can “fix” your PE, depending on how you define “fix”. If you’re aiming to correct the underlying physical deformity (that is, inward shaping ribs and costal… Read More »
Pectus excavatum (PE) is a chest wall deformity that can present with physical or psychosocial symptoms, or none at all. So which physician should you see if you have questions about your Pectus? If it’s your first time, start with a primary care physician, whether that’s a pediatrician or a general internal or family medicine… Read More »
Pathology Pectus excavatum (PE) leads to an inward deformity of the chest wall, whereas Pectus carinatum (PC) leads to an outward deformity of the chest wall. The underlying cause in both cases is unknown. You might think, for example, that patients with PC have an overgrowth of the costal cartilage in the chest, and that… Read More »
So you’re considering the Nuss procedure and have heard about the risk of metal allergy. Should you get allergy testing? Firstly, ask your surgeon, as some surgeons will require it. Others may give you the option. Short Answer: If you have a personal or family history of metal allergy, yes. If you are a female, consider… Read More »
This is a very difficult question to answer, but one of the most common. The overall conclusion of a few studies is that they appear to be very similar with respect to complication rates. The best we can do is look to several recent journal articles investigating this question. However, it is very important to… Read More »
There is only one medical research study on the lifespan of individuals with Pectus Excavatum (PE). For those interested, it can be found here. In that study, it was determined that out of 50,946 autopsy reports included in the research, there were 62 cases of PE. As a whole, PE individuals tended to die at… Read More »
Pectus excavatum (PE) can present at birth or even in utero. One of the most common questions for parents with children affected by PE is, “When should I start seeking medical attention for my son/daughter?” There are three main points to keep in mind related to this topic: First of all, as a rule of… Read More »
The Nuss Procedure is the most common form of treatment for Pectus Excavatum. It involves inserting a metal bar (or multiple bars) into the chest. A few years later, the bars are removed. The Nuss Procedure can vary depending on the surgeon, but the basic steps hold true for most institutions. Nuss Procedure Steps Anesthesia… Read More »