What department should I go to if my child has pectus excavatum?

Children with pectus excavatum usually require thoracic surgery for diagnosis and treatment, and may need further evaluation with pediatrics or nutrition if necessary. A thoracic surgeon can develop a specific treatment plan based on the severity of the pectus excavatum and assess whether surgical intervention is needed.

1What is pectus excavatum?

Pectus excavatum is a chest wall collapse caused by abnormal development of the sternum and some ribs, resulting in a sunken chest appearance. It is generally caused by excessive growth of the costal cartilage during development and is a congenital chest deformity. In some cases, it may also be related to family inheritance. Mild pectus excavatum usually does not cause obvious functional impairment, but severe pectus excavatum may compress the heart and lungs, leading to difficulty breathing, chest tightness, or decreased activity tolerance.

Genetics is one of the common causes, and some relatives of children may also have similar chest deformities. External environmental factors or nutritional problems may also have a certain impact on the formation of the disease. During the growth and development of children, certain posture habits and body problems may also aggravate funnel chest.

2What should I do if my child has pectus excavatum?

The treatment of pectus excavatum depends on its severity. If there is no obvious functional impairment, observation and conservative treatment can be the main approach.

1Conservative treatment:

Professional chest correction training, such as gymnastics, yoga or swimming, can be used to improve chest shape and enhance breathing and muscle function. You can also use vacuum suction devices such as VacuumBell to regularly absorb and treat mild funnel chest; however, the effect of this method varies from person to person and needs to be followed.

2. Drug assistance:

If the child is also deficient in calcium, vitamin D and other elements, the abnormal development of thoracic cartilage may be aggravated. Nutritional supplements or medication can help alleviate this situation. It is recommended to develop a supplement plan under the guidance of a nutritionist.

3. Surgical correction:

For children with severe pectus excavatum that affects their cardiopulmonary function, surgery is the main treatment method. Currently, the most commonly used one is the Nuss procedure, also known as sternal flip surgery, which implants a metal stent to prop up the sunken area and is generally suitable for children over 6 years old. Another type of Ravitch surgery is to reconstruct the thoracic structure, which is mostly used for adults or patients with severe deformities.

3. Subsequent management that requires attention

Regardless of the treatment method, post-treatment review and rehabilitation training are important. Follow-up visits should be made regularly to monitor chest development and cardiopulmonary function. Bad sitting posture or body shape should be avoided as much as possible, and children should be ensured to have a balanced diet every day and increase their vitamin D intake to help strengthen bone development.

Early intervention of pectus excavatum can help reduce serious consequences. If you find abnormalities in your child's chest, it is recommended that parents take their children to a thoracic surgery department as soon as possible, where professional doctors will evaluate and take appropriate measures to ensure the child's healthy development and improve their quality of life.