Surgical treatment of children with asymmetric pectus excavatum: Literature review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The surgical treatment of children with pectus excavatum is regarded as an urgent problem still demanding solution despite the multitudes of surgical correction methods available nowadays. The currently available well-known techniques cannot be considered perfect because they are not proper enough for solving all the tasks, not to mention the problem of asymmetric forms of pectus excavatum treatment. AIM: To analyze publications containing information on the methods of surgical treatment used for children with pectus excavatum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study presents the results of literature review on the methods of surgical correction of pectus excavatum. Information was retrieved in PubMed, Google Scholar, and eLibrary scientific databases using keywords. Consequently, 63 foreign and domestic scientific sources over the period from 1609 to 2022 were identified. Among them, 29 publications refer to the latest decade. RESULTS: Given the variety of methods used for chest deformity correction, thoracoplasty by D. Nuss has become the gold standard for the treatment of pectus excavatum. However, according to the search results, it is impossible to name one universal method of surgical intervention that could solve all the urgent problems at present. Modern surgery methods used for pectus excavatum correction can be considered only as modifications of treatment methods having been used before. CONCLUSIONS: The shortcomings of modern thoracoplasty determine the necessity to keep searching for new techniques and improve those available at present. Besides, the standard suitable for both surgeons and patients should be elaborated.