Patient's question:
Medical history and treatment outcomes: Do funnel chest require surgery? Can it be treated with medication? Is surgery necessary? How long is the recovery period approximately? Desired assistance: Do funnel chest require surgery?Doctor's answer:
Pectus excavatum is a congenital, familial disease.Pectus excavatum is a deformity where the sternum, costal cartilages, and a small portion of the ribs curve inward toward the spine, forming a funnel-like shape. In most cases of pectus excavatum, the sternum begins to curve backward at the level of the third or second costal cartilage, reaches its lowest point slightly above the xiphoid process, and then curves forward to form a boat-like deformity. The sides or lateral aspects curve inward, forming the lateral walls of the pectus excavatum. Surgical treatment is available: There are two methods of surgery, traditional surgical treatment and minimally invasive surgical treatment.