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Pectus Excavatum or Funnel Chest

 
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mike
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Joined: 18 Jan 2005
Posts: 69
Location: Poteet, Tx

PostPosted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 12:33 am GMT +0000    Post subject: Pectus Excavatum or Funnel Chest Reply with quote

Doc:

What can you tell me about pectus excavatum? All the www research I have performed seems to be geared towards children with the condition. I'm in my mid thirties and would like to know if this condition can be corrected. I was 4 the last time I was seen by a M.D. for this condition. I remember him saying is that it shouldn't affect me until I'm older. All my life I've tired out prior to anyone else, felt like I can never quite catch my breath and can always feel my heart beating when I lay on my left side. What advice do you have and is there a specialist for this type of condition? Thank you kindly.
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The Bike Doc
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Joined: 08 May 2003
Posts: 1398
Location: Corpus Christi and Warda, Texas

PostPosted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 7:31 am GMT +0000    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mike:

See an adult Pulmonologist. This is a lung specialist physician who can do measurments of your lungs to assess whether or not the pectus is causing significant restriction in your air movement in and out of the lungs. He or she will also investigate for other causes of shortness of breath with exercise such as asthma or heart related problems. There are surgical procedures to correct the pectus but should only be undertaken if there is significant lung restriction.

Thanks,
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Paul K. Nolan, MD
AKA: The Bike Doc
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 1:10 pm GMT +0000    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'll do that. Are you familiar with the surgical procedures to correct the pectus? Thanks again.
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The Bike Doc
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Joined: 08 May 2003
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Location: Corpus Christi and Warda, Texas

PostPosted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 5:31 am GMT +0000    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mike:

Yes I am. There are several methods of doing the surgery but most have fallen out of favor due to complications of subsequent recurrence of the pectus or significant scarring down. The one procedure that has been shown most promising is called the Nuss procedure and involves placing a stainless steel or titanium bar under the sternum to lift it outward and reverse the pectus. (Check these links: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=9574749 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15563267 ) The bar is left in place for around 18 months and is then removed. It has been demonstrated to be effective in children and adults but there is a higher complication rate in the adult age group. I have met Dr. Nuss who developed this procedure and seen the results of his work and it is quite impressive.

The key factor however before doing the surgery is demonstrating a severe enough pectus deformity that is restricting lung movement to justify the risks of the surgery. Go to PubMed and do a search under Nuss AND pectus excavatum for further reading and education: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?

Thanks,
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Paul K. Nolan, MD
AKA: The Bike Doc
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mike
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Joined: 18 Jan 2005
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Location: Poteet, Tx

PostPosted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 7:57 am GMT +0000    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you Dr. Nolan for your guidance.
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