Analysis of the Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum in different age groups.

BACKGROUND: The Nuss procedure is a newly developed operative method for minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum in pediatric patients. However, the surgical indication for this procedure has been extended into adult patients. The aim of this study was to assess the surgical outcome of the Nuss procedure in different age groups and to analyze its feasibility in the adult population.

METHODS: From December 1999 to March 2003, 51 patients (40 males and 11 females) with pectus excavatum underwent the Nuss procedure. We classified patients into three groups based on age (pediatric, adolescent, and adult), retrospectively analyzed demographic, intraoperative and postoperative data, and compared outcomes among each group.

RESULTS: Mean operation time was 52.0 +/- 22.9 minutes, 80.4 +/- 27.4 minutes, and 127.3 +/- 44.9 minutes in the pediatric, adolescent, and adult groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Postoperative complications occurred in 3 of 27 patients (11.1%) in the pediatric group and in 7 of 12 patients (58.3%) in both the adolescent and adult groups (p = 0.002). Reoperations were performed due to complications in 1 of 27 patients (3.7%) in the pediatric group, 2 of 12 patients (16.6%) in the adolescent group, and 5 of 12 patients (41.7%) in the adult group (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The Nuss procedure is highly recommended in pediatric patients with pectus excavatum. However, in adults it is necessary to select patients carefully because of the longer operation time and higher incidence of complications associated with the procedure in this population.