Congenital chest concaveness in a child: Diagnosis and treatment

The article is consulted professionally by Specialist Doctor II Tran Van Trong – Specialist in Pediatric Surgery, Plastic Surgery – Plastic Surgery – General Surgery Department – Share99 Da Nang InternationalHealth Hub.

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Congenital chest concaveness can often be easily diagnosed by chest examination. But the doctor may prescribe some other type of diagnostic technique to check for problems related to the heart and lungs.

1. Diagnosis of congenital chest concaveness

Congenital chest concaveness in children (Pectus excavatum) or funnel chest is a condition where the sternum and some ribs are abnormally deformed and recessed deeply. Chest concaveness in babies can be difficult to detect concave symptoms that begin clearly when the child is 2 to 3 years old. In some cases, new chest concaveness appears as the child grows.

Chest concaveness can often be easily diagnosed by chest examination. But your doctor may prescribe some other type of diagnostic technique to check for heart and lung problems, including:

  • Chest X-ray: This technique shows the doctor how the sternum shape is concave and checks if the child's heart is pushed to the left. X-rays are painless and only take a few minutes to complete.
  • Computer ctcography (CT): CT scans are used to help determine the severity of chest concaveness and whether the heart or lungs are pinched. Since CT scans take many X-rays from different angles to create a cross-sectional image of the internal structure of the body, the doctor can identify the above problems. Chest CT scans are essential as it provides a Haller index. The Haller index is the ratio between the horizontal chest diameter and the front diameter of the chest. Normally, this index is about 2.5 cm, and if this is just over 3.2 cm, this child is determined to be severe chest concave.

Recessed ct scan

Recessed ct scan
  • Electrocardigraphy: The electrocardigraph shows whether the heart rate and heart rate are normal or not. This diagnostic technique does not cause pain to the child and but it is somewhat difficult to place 12 pole ropes on the child's chest and legs so it may not cooperate.
  • Heart ultrasound: Cardiac ultrasound to show real-time images of how the heart and heart valves work. The images are created by transmiting sound waves through a probe that is applied to the child's chest.
  • Measuring respiratory function to check chest concave affects how much gas a child inhales and exhales.
  • Physical exertion tests to monitor a child's heart and lungs are doing well in exercise conditions, usually for children to cycle on the spot or run on a t-machine.

2. Chest concaveness and treatment

Chest concaveness can be operated on for treatment, but surgery is usually for children with signs and symptoms from medium to severe. People with mild signs and symptoms can be treated with physical therapy techniques and some exercises that can improve the position and increase the extent to which the chest can expand.

Types of surgery

If the child has a medium to severe chest concaveness, the doctor may prescribe surgery with the two most common types of surgery used to treat chest concaveness depending on the size of the incision and whether cartilage is removed:

  • Smaller incisions: This is minimally invasive surgery with small incisions made on each side of the chest, under each arm. Surgical instruments and small cameras are inserted into the body through incisions. A curved metal bar is threaded under the concave sternum and used to lift the sternum to its normal position. In some cases, the child needs to use more metal bars. After two or three years, the bars are drawn. This method of surgery is called Nuss Surgery.

Congenital chest concave treatment

Treatments for chest concave young children
  • Larger incision: An incision in the middle of the chest allows the surgeon to directly view the sternum. Deformed cartilage attached between the ribs and sternum will be removed, but retain the cartilage membrane and fix the sternum to its normal position with the support of a metal bar or support mesh. This surgery is also known as Ravitch Surgery, the limitations of this surgery leave large scars and aesthetics after the repair is not beautiful.

Most children who undergo surgery to adjust their chest concaveness are satisfied with the change in their chest shape regardless of the technique. However, parents should note that in order to achieve the best results of the surgery, the child needs to have surgery performed before or around puberty, or earlier depending on the condition of the child and the effect of the disease on the child.

Dr. Trong has over 10 years of experience in Pediatric Surgery and Plastic Surgery, and has soon become one of the leading doctors in the field of Pediatric Surgery, especially Laparoscopic and Plastic Surgery.

The Pediatrics Department at Share99 is one of the few multidisciplinary hospitals with a full range of neuropsyhical, cardiovascular, digestive, nutritional, psychological, endocardic, hepatic and hepatic specialists to help quickly and promptly detect diseases during the examination. As a key area of Share99 Health System, Pediatrics always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:

  • Gathering a team of leading doctors in Pediatrics:including leading experts, highly specialized (professors, associate professors, doctors, masters), experienced, used to work at large hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. The doctors are well-trained, professional, mind-centered, knowledgeable about the child's psychology. In addition to domestic pediatricians, pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) always pioneering the application of the latest and most effective treatment regimens.
  • Comprehensive services:In the field of Pediatrics, Share99 provides a chain of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatrics and Vaccines,… according to international standards to take care of your baby's health with parents from birth to adulthood
  • Intensive techniques:Share99 has successfully implemented many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery – skull, hematoma stem cell transplantation in cancer treatment.
  • Professional care:In addition to understanding the young psychology, Share99 also pay special attention to the children's play space, help them play comfortably and get acquainted with the hospital environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical examination and treatment.

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SEE MORE:

  • Congenital chest concaveness in a child: Symptoms and complications
  • Congenital chest concave surgery
  • Nuss surgery has congenital concave chest orthopedics

About: John Smith

b1ffdb54307529964874ff53a5c5de33?s=90&r=gI am the author of Share99.net. I had been working in Vinmec International General Hospital for over 10 years. I dedicate my passion on every post in this site.

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