Radiographic findings after pectus excavatum repair.

Postoperative radiographic changes after pectus repair have not previously been described. We reviewed the chest radiographs of 65 children who underwent surgical repair of pectus excavatum between early 1985 and mid-1992. After operation, 64 children showed atelectasis, 38 had pleural effusions, 30 showed a congestion or edema pattern, 12 had pneumothorax, 21 showed fixation strut tilt or rotation, and 4 had pneumomediastinum. Despite the sometimes worrying radiographic appearance, these children uniformly did well clinically.