Who is considered a surgical candidate?2,3
Pectus excavatum is not preventable, but it is treatable. Patients
should seek treatment if they are having physical symptoms and/or
psychological symptoms from their pectus condition. Patients are
considered candidates for corrective surgery with the following criteria:
- If regular heart and lung functions or quality-of-life is
negatively impacted
- Severity of the deformity is measured
by the Haller index (a ratio calculated by using internal chest
measurements)
- If the deformity leads to significant
self-esteem issues, such as clinical depression, or other
psychological issues
Only a medical professional can determine the appropriate treatment
for any specific condition. Talk to your doctor about the Nuss
Procedure and the associated risks, which include, but are not limited to:
- Metal sensitivity reaction or allergic reaction to the
implant (Pectus bar) material (metal).
- Pain,
discomfort, or abnormal sensation due to the presence of the
device.
- Surgical trauma including permanent or temporary
nerve damage, permanent or temporary damage to heart, lungs, and
other organs, body structures or tissues
- Skin
irritation, infection, and pneumothorax (air leaking in the
space between the lung and chest wall which may cause the lung
to collapse)
- Fracture, breakage, migration, or
loosening of the implant
- Inadequate or incomplete
remodeling of the deformity or return of the deformity, prior to
or after removal of the implant
- Permanent injury or
death
- For a complete list of risks associated with Zimmer
Biomet’s pectus bar, see Patient
Risk Information4
