Funnel Chest Minimally Invasive Surgery Center
Physician Zhi-Chun Chu
Introduction
- Specializes in funnel chest minimally invasive surgery (Nuss procedure)
- Each year, 150 patients with funnel chest were treated, with more than 1,250 successful cases of funnel chest minimally invasive surgery.
- Founder of the “Taiwan Funnel Chest Disease Association”
Treatment Advantages
- The operation uses a small incision from the side or underarm and is placed in a C-shaped supporting frame to correct the inward concave sternum and costal cartilage. This technique can help eliminate the physical damage that a traditional surgery (Ravitch procedure) might cause by removing six to eight pairs of costal cartilage.
- Minimally invasive surgery, the wound is only 2-3 cm, which does not affect the appearance.
- Bleeding amount is only 10-30 cc.
- You can get out of bed 2-3 days after surgery, be discharged after 4-5 days, and exercise after 10 days.
Funnel Chest Introduction
The funnel chest (also known as pectus excavatum) is a thoracic abnormality that causes a funnel chest deformity in every 300-400 newborns. Funnel chests often affect the heart and lung function of the patients due to the depression of the sternum, which leads to arrhythmia, poor lung function, lack of exercise capacity and appearance defects. In severe cases, psychological disorders such as inferiority, loneliness, and social isolation may occur.
Education
Experience
Director of Pediatric Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital
Associate Professor of Surgery, National Defense Medical Center
Executive Supervisor of Taiwan Surgery Association
Director of Taiwan Pediatric Surgery Medical Association
Honor&Awards
Comparison between minimally invasive surgery and traditional surgery for funnel chest
| Type of surgery method | Minimally invasive surgery (Nuss procedure) | Traditional surgery (Ravitch procedure) |
|---|---|---|
| Surgery Method | Micro-invasive surgery. Small incision from the side or underarm. Insert the C-shaped supporting frame. Push out and support the inward concave sternum and costal cartilage. After two to three years, when the thorax is secured in shape, the supporting frame is removed. | Big wound surgery Cut the pectoralis major sternum And another 6-8 cut to correct the costal cartilage |
| Surgical incision | 2-3 cm incisions on two sides of the chest for esthetic purpose | Large incision in the front of the chest |
| Surgery time | 2-3 hours | 3-6 hours |
| Bleeding amount | Little | A lot |
| Days of hospitalization | 3-5 days | 5-10 days |
