How to treat pectus excavatum?
There are many treatment methods for pectus excavatum, and the choice depends on the severity of the pectus excavatum, the age and chest wall elasticity of the child with pectus excavatum, the potential for further growth and development, and the expectations of the patient and their family. For younger children with pectus excavatum, where the chest wall is more elastic and soft, and in cases of mild pectus excavatum, a pectus excavatum suction cup can be considered. This device uses a certain amount of pressure, similar to a car suction cup, which is commonly seen in auto repair shops where a dented plastic bumper is gradually pulled out using a suction cup. This principle is also utilized by the pectus excavatum suction cup. Of course, this is under the premise that the patient is younger and has a softer chest, making it easier to be corrected by suction. For older patients with a harder chest, using a suction cup might not be appropriate, and surgical treatment may need to be considered. There are several surgical techniques available, ranging from the early Ravitch procedure, which involves a sternotomy and complete detachment of the sternum followed by flipping it, to the later Nuss procedure, and up to the current Wang surgical method and minimally invasive techniques.