Pei-Yeh Chang

Costochondral changes in the chest wall after the Nuss procedure: ultrasonographic findings

PURPOSE The Nuss procedure is one of the most popular surgeries for correcting pectus excavatum. However, little is known regarding stress and strain on the deformed ribs after inserting the pectus bar. We used ultrasonography to investigate costochondral changes before and after the Nuss procedure. METHODS Ninety-five patients underwent the Nuss procedure between July 2007 and February 2008 at 2 institutions. Chest ultrasonography, specifically of the bones and cartilage, was performed 1 day before and 1 week after the operation. RESULTS Postoperatively, all patients showed various degrees of deformation from the second to sixth cartilages bilaterally. The cartilages were not fractured. Of these patients, 28 (29.5%) had significant changes, including acute angulation of the costochondral junction and rib fractures near the pectus bar. These changes were associated with increased age (P < .01) and the degree of postoperative sternum elevation (P < .01). The pectus index and sex were not significant predictors of rib damage. CONCLUSIONS The Nuss procedure created significant stress and strain over the deformed cartilages. Approximately 29% of the patients showed localized, self-limited costochondral changes via chest ultrasonography.

The measurement and designation of the pectus bar by computed tomography

PURPOSE The length of the bar used for the Nuss procedure is typically determined by measuring the distance between the 2 midaxillary lines and subtracting 2.5 cm. However, this may not be accurate for all patients. Measurements of the chest using computed tomography (CT) were developed for better determination of bar length. METHODS Seventy-five patients underwent the Nuss procedure between 2005 and 2008. The length and curve of the pectus bar were determined using both the traditional method (TM) and CT. RESULTS Twelve patients (16%) had length differences (LD) with the methods. The LD and non-LD patients were 18.8 +/- 2.4 and 11.3 +/- 0.6 years old, respectively (P = .005). The proportion of females in the groups was 58.3% (7/12) and 28.6% (18/63), respectively (P = .046). The TM gave a longer bar estimation in all but one patient with a high sternal angulation. Slight bar protrusion was noted in 3 of the 12 patients with LD using TM and 0 of the 9 patients using CT. CONCLUSIONS Computed tomography measurement is a precise means for determining length, especially in older patients, females with developed breasts, or patients with high sternal angulation. It also allows for better curvature design, preventing multiple intraoperative adjustments.

Analysis of changes to the anterior chest wall after the Nuss procedure—an objective measurement of pectus excavatum

INTRODUCTION We report a noninvasive method for recording the deviation of the anterior chest wall (ACW) in patients with pectus excavatum before and after the insertion and removal of a Nuss bar. PATIENTS AND METHOD All patients undergoing the Nuss procedure at our institutions between June 2008 and February 2009 were enrolled in this study. A thermal plastic strip was used to cast the ACW at the skin level along the area corresponding to the tract of the inserted bar. The height of the ACW was defined as the perpendicular length from the xiphoid process to the transverse line drawn between the 2 midaxillary points. RESULTS Bar insertion caused a significant increase in ACW height and width. Bar removal reduced the corrective effects in terms of a significant decrease in ACW height; at the same time, an increase in ACW width was noted. CONCLUSION Feature extraction and analyses of permanent contour casts of the ACW help to understand immediate changes in the ACW after the Nuss procedure and may assist in the design of the bar at insertion. The Nuss bar in situ helped to maintain cosmetic benefits to the ACW.

Rapid increase in the height and width of the upper chest in adolescents with primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

BACKGROUND We determined the chest height in a cohort of patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) who had received chest radiographic examinations prior to the attack. The aim of this study was to determine when their chest height began to change and how this was related to the PSP. METHODS From June 2009 to February 2012, the chest posteroanterior radiographs of 156 patients with PSP (Group 1) were reviewed. Among another 3134 patients with PSP, we identified 52 patients who had a chest posteroanterior radiograph prior to the attack (Group 2). We also recruited 196 controls for comparison (Group 3). The chest height and chest width at different levels were measured and analyzed. RESULTS Before 14 years of age, the chest height of patients in Group 2 was no different from that of patients in Group 3. By the age of 14 years, however, the chest height and upper chest width of patients with PSP was significantly higher than that of the normal controls. The difference from normal chest height did not increase at adulthood. CONCLUSION The rapid increase in chest height and upper chest width is a unique finding in patients with PSP. It might be attributable to the occurrence of PSP. This finding may also help to identify patients who are at risk of PSP.

A cross-sectional study of lung volume development in pectus excavatum patients: estimating the total lung volume from chest computed tomograph using 3-dimensional volumetric reconstruction

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE This study quantified the lung volume development of pectus excavatum (PE) patients using chest computed tomography (CT) 3-dimensional volumetric reconstructions. The technique permits current and retrospective analyses of data from different institutions. PATIENTS AND METHODS We analyzed the records of PE patients who underwent chest CT preoperatively between 2005 and 2009 at 3 institutions. All patients were Chinese. A window of -992 to -198 Hounsfield units was chosen for calculating the CT total lung volume (TLV). The data were compared with the data for 73 microtia and other chest-wall tumor patients studied during the same period as a control group. RESULTS In total, 377 PE patients with Haller pectus index (PI) of at least 3.2 were identified for this study. Compared with the reported TLV data for 1050 healthy children and our control group, we found little evidence of a decreased TLV in PE patients at any age for either sex. The mean PI did not change significantly between the ages of 3 and 27 years. The PI was inversely correlated with the TLV (P < .001). CONCLUSION Our cross-sectional study provides evidence that the TLV of PE patients is within the reference range in children and adolescents.

Chest Wall Constriction after the Nuss Procedure Identified from Chest Radiograph and Multislice Computed Tomography Shortly after Removal of the Bar.

BACKGROUND This study radiographically examined the changes in the chest walls of patients with pectus excavatum (PE) after Nuss bar removal, to define the deformation caused by the bar and stabilizer. In the first part of the study, we compared the changes in chest radiographs of patients with PE to a preoperation PE control group. In the second part, we used multislice computed tomography (CT) scans to provide three-dimensional reconstructions with which to evaluate the changes to the thoracic wall. METHODS Part 1 From June 2006 to August 2011, 1,125 patients with PE who had posteroanterior chest radiographs taken before undergoing the Nuss procedure at four hospitals were enrolled as a preoperative control group. At the same time, 203 patients who had the bar removed were enrolled as the study group. The maximum dimensions of the outer boundary of the first to ninth rib pairs (R1-R9, rib pair width), chest height, and chest width were measured. Part 2 Thirty-one consecutive patients with PE (20 males and 11 females) who underwent Nuss bar removal were evaluated 7 to 30 days after operation. During this period, a further 34 patients with PE who had undergone CT imaging before bar insertion were evaluated and compared with the postoperative group. RESULTS Part 1 The width of the lower ribs (R4-R9) after bar removal was significantly less than in the age-matched controls. The ribs adjacent to the bar (R5-R7) showed the greatest restriction. The width of the upper ribs (R1-R3) 2 to 3 years after bar placement did not differ significantly from the controls. Patients who were operated on after 10 years of age had less of a restrictive effect. Three years of bar placement resulted in more restriction than a 2-year period, particularly in patients younger than 10 years old. Part 2: A significant constriction of the chest wall was observed in 13 patients after removal of the Nuss bar. Constriction at ribs 5 to 8 was found to be present adjacent to the site of bar insertion. However, constriction of the chest wall was found in only 3 of the 34 patients in the preoperative group. The severity of constriction (as graded by the spline model) also increased in the postoperative group. CONCLUSION The growth of the chest wall was restricted after placement of the Nuss bar for PE correction. Long-term follow-up of chest wall growth is needed to clarify whether such constriction resolves with time.

A Cross-Sectional Study of Chest Wall Development in Patients with Pectus Excavatum.

BACKGROUND We conducted a cross-sectional study to quantify the developmental changes of the thoracic cage in patients with pectus excavatum (PE). METHODS The preoperative posteroanterior standing chest radiographs (chest PAs) of 1,197 consecutive patients with PE, together with 1,661 age- and sex-matched minor surgery patients, as a control group, who were seen between June 2005 and February 2013, were reviewed. The maximum width of each rib pair and chest height (H) were measured on the chest PA. RESULTS In the PE group, the normal thoracic contour in younger patients was replaced by a characteristic can-shaped chest wall, which showed protrusion of the upper ribs, an increased H, and a straightened lateral border of the chest cage, as they grew into adulthood. The chest height difference between the PE and control groups increased progressively, from the age of 8 years and most significantly from age 13 to 17 years. No difference was observed in the middle and lower rib widths. Sex did not influence these trends. CONCLUSION The PE chest wall shows a significant increment in chest height, and upper rib width starts during the period of rapid growth and is maintained into adulthood. The thoracic deformity in patients with PE includes more than just the sternal deformity.

Total Colonic Aganglionosis: Reappraisal of Contrast Enema Study

Total colonic aganglionosis (TCA) is a rare form of Hirschsprung disease (HD). It is difficult to be diagnosed on contrast enema because the radiographic findings are variable. The study aims to re-evaluate the contrast enema findings of TCA. From 2001 to 2009, 14 patients (11 males, 3 females; ages from 1 day to 6 months) with pathologically proven TCA were reviewed for demographic features, clinical presentations, pathology reports, radiographic and contrast enema findings. In addition, the radiographic and contrast enema findings of 53 patients with non-TCA HD were reviewed and compared with those of TCA. Among the imaging findings, a short and rigid colon, small bowel dilatation, microcolon, and radiographic transition zone proximal to the cecum were statistically more significant in patients with TCA than in patients with non-TCA HD (P ＜ 0.001). In conclusion, TCA is a colon disease presenting as small bowel obstruction clinically and radiographically. Although the radiographic findings of TCA are variable, TCA could be suspected when the initial radiograph shows small bowel dilatation and contrast enema shows a short and rigid colon, radiographic transition zone proximal to the cecum, poor rectal distensibility, colonic wall irregularity and delayed contrast emptying. In addition, biopsy should be performed to make a definite diagnosis. According to the caliber of the colon on contrast enema, a subgrouping approach may be useful in the differential diagnosis and be helpful in early diagnosis and exclusion of TCA.

Fixation of lung apex in spontaneous pneumothorax is safe and efficient in decrease recurrences

BACKGROUND Video-assisted thoracoscopic bullectomy with pleurodesis is widely used to treat spontaneous pneumothorax. However, 1%-3% of patients experience postoperative complications that may require reoperation, such as bleeding or prolonged air leaks, and 3%-7% of patients require a repeat thoracoscopic bullectomy due to recurrence. Therefore, a modified procedure with improved outcomes is required. METHODS Between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2015, 196 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax underwent thoracoscopic bullectomy and pleurodesis with or without fixation of the lung apex to the chest wall. In patients in the fixation group, the lung apex was fixed to the chest wall with two non-absorbable sutures after bullectomy and pleurodesis. The treatment of each lung was considered an independent operation in patients with bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax. RESULTS The patients in each group had comparable backgrounds. In the fixation group, 67 patients underwent 87 operations, four of which (in three patients) led to recurrences (recurrence rate, 4.60%). There were no readmissions or reoperations within 30 days in this group. In the non-fixation group, 128 patients underwent 161 operations, 14 of which (in nine patients) led to recurrences (recurrence rate, 8.7%). In addition, three patients in this group required reoperation and two were readmitted within 30 days. CONCLUSIONS Modified thoracoscopic bullectomy with fixation of the lung apex is a safe procedure that provides better outcomes with lower complication rates.