The results of the Ravitch-Sutherland technic for surgical correction in pectus excavatum

• Published in: Revista medico-chirurgicala a Societatii de Medici si Naturalisti din Iasi Vol. 100; no. 3-4; p. 169
• Main Authors: Goţia, D G, Aprodu, S G, Savu, B, Nedelcu, D, Bejenaru, T, Filip, F, Munteanu, V, Paiu, C, Frasin, M, Georgescu, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Romanian
• Published: Romania 01.07.1996
• Subjects: Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Funnel Chest - surgery; Humans; Male; Methods; Recurrence; Retrospective Studies; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0048-7848

The aim of our study was to asses the functional and cosmetic results after performing a modified Ravitch-Sutherland procedure in children presenting with pectus excavatum. A series of 31 children with ages ranging between 5 and 16 years, presenting with pectus excavatum, were operated between 1986-1996 in our service. In 5 cases surgical treatment was required by the presence of respiratory and/or cardiac functional impairment due to the malformation. In the other 23 cases operation was performed mainly for cosmetic reasons. In all cases a modified Ravitch-Sutherland procedure was performed. Modifications consisted in renouncing at the plication of the perichondrium and in associating a diaphragmatic elongation and Bedouelle laparoplasty in all cases. Longitudinal sternotomy was performed in 2 cases with severely impaired ventilatory capacity. Functional and cosmetic results were good in all cases. In 2 cases, in which recurrence of the condition was observed, a second identical procedure was performed, with a good result. The interval between the operation and the moment of long-term evaluation ranged between 3 months and 11 years. We conclude that the modified Ravitch-Sutherland procedure represents an effective method for the treatment of pectus excavatum cases, offering good functional and cosmetic long-term results.