INTRODUCTION: Although the Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum is widely employed, a variety of complications have been reported with relatively high frequency; those that involve cardiac and pericardial injuries can be life threatening. To reduce such dangers, we present here a newly developed sternal elevator. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The elevator is horseshoe shaped. Its elevator side has the same curvature as a Nuss introducer, so that interference between devices is minimal and no extra skin incision is needed for the elevator insertion. The elevator holds the sternum forward and enlarges the retrosternal space for safer passage of thoracoscopically guided introducer. RESULTS: The authors have used the elevator for 61 pectus excavatum cases between March 2004 and December 2009 without any major complications. The entire process of substernal tunneling was endoscopically observed, which eliminated any blunt and blind dissection, even in a significantly depressed funnel chest case. With the device, the sternum was effectively elevated again for the placement of the second plate in 30 cases. CONCLUSION: Our newly developed sternum elevator makes the Nuss procedure safer and more affordable without introducing any extra scarring.
INTRODUCTION: Although the Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum is widely employed, a variety of complications have been reported with relatively high frequency; those that involve cardiac and pericardial injuries can be life threatening. To reduce such dangers, we present here a newly developed sternal elevator. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The elevator is horseshoe shaped. Its elevator side has the same curvature as a Nuss introducer, so that interference between devices is minimal and no extra skin incision is needed for the elevator insertion. The elevator holds the sternum forward and enlarges the retrosternal space for safer passage of thoracoscopically guided introducer. RESULTS: The authors have used the elevator for 61 pectus excavatum cases between March 2004 and December 2009 without any major complications. The entire process of substernal tunneling was endoscopically observed, which eliminated any blunt and blind dissection, even in a significantly depressed funnel chest case. With the device, the sternum was effectively elevated again for the placement of the second plate in 30 cases. CONCLUSION: Our newly developed sternum elevator makes the Nuss procedure safer and more affordable without introducing any extra scarring.
Authors: Daniel P Croitoru; Robert E Kelly; Michael J Goretsky; M Louise Lawson; Barbara Swoveland; Donald Nuss Journal: J Pediatr Surg Date: 2002-03 Impact factor: 2.545
Authors: Robert E Kelly; Robert C Shamberger; Robert B Mellins; Karen K Mitchell; M Louise Lawson; Keith Oldham; Richard G Azizkhan; Andre V Hebra; Donald Nuss; Michael J Goretsky; Ronald J Sharp; George W Holcomb; Walton K T Shim; Stephen M Megison; R Lawrence Moss; Annie H Fecteau; Paul M Colombani; Traci C Bagley; Alan B Moskowitz Journal: J Am Coll Surg Date: 2007-06-21 Impact factor: 6.113
Authors: Christoph Castellani; Johannes Schalamon; Amulya K Saxena; Michael E Höellwarth Journal: Pediatr Surg Int Date: 2008-04-05 Impact factor: 1.827