Pectus Excavatum is a congenital chest wall deformity that causes several ribs and the sternum (breast bone) to grow abnormally. The condition may also be referred to as sunken or funnel chest because of the caved-in shape the condition produces. Pectus excavatum is usually present at birth but may become more prominent during adolescent growth spurts. In some cases, the condition causes nothing more than a sunken chest, which ma cause some self-esteem issues, but is not cause for medical concern. In severe cases, however, the sunken breast bone may interfere with heart and lung function. In these severe cases, medical intervention is required to live a normal, healthy life.
Your pediatrician will generally be able to diagnose the condition shortly after birth and will monitor it for health effects throughout the child’s life. If the depression causes concern in infancy, they may recommend intervention early, while the bones and body structure are still developing.
What is a Pectus Excavatum Correction?
What are the Symptoms?
- A decrease in physical activity tolerance
- Racing heart or heart palpitations
- Frequent respiratory infections
- Chronic fatigue
- Heart murmur
- Chest pain
- Wheezing or coughing, worsening with exertion
Pectus Excavatum Correction
Treatment of pectus excavatum will depend on the severity of the case and how much it is impacting heart and lung function. For mild cases, physical therapy may be used to help improve posture and muscle tone in an effort to maximize chest expansion. For moderate to severe cases, there are surgical procedures that may be performed to help correct the condition.
How Can Alaska Pediatrics Help?
At Alaska Pediatric Specialties, our surgical team has been correcting pectus excavatum in Alaska’s children for decades. We have had very successful outcomes and most patients are happy with how their chest appears after surgical intervention. If your child has been diagnosed with pectus excavatum, contact Alaska Pediatric Specialities to schedule your evaluation today.