Disease Overview.
Funnel chest is a congenital and often familial disorder with an incidence of about 1 in 300-500,about 6 times more in males than in females. It accounts for approximately 90% of all chest wall deformities. It occurs in infancy, worsens in adolescence, and remains constant in adulthood.
Symptoms and signs.
The less severe symptoms of compression of the funnel chest in infancy often go unnoticed. Some have inspiratory stridor and sternal aspiration depression, but the cause of the airway obstruction is often not detected. Children are often thin, immobile, prone to upper respiratory tract infections, and have limited mobility. Exertional expiratory volume and maximum ventilation volume are significantly reduced. The child may experience panic, shortness of breath and dyspnea during activity. In addition to the thoracic deformity, there is often a mild hunchback, abdominal protrusion and other special body shapes.
Indications for surgery.
1. The age of surgery should be >2 years old
2.Haller index >3.25
3.Severe symptoms of activity restriction
4.Lung function suggests restrictive or obstructive airway pathology
5.The heart is displaced by pressure and the electrocardiogram shows myocardial damage.
Possible complications of surgery.
1.Displacement of the plate.
2.Overcorrection.
3.Plate deformation.
4.hemothorax, pneumothorax
5.Recurrence
6.Pericardial effusion, pneumonia
7.Infection of incision, skin necrosis
8.Heart perforation
9.Death, etc.