Patient's question:
After the baby was born, a month later it was discovered that he had pectus excavatum. The main symptoms include: sunken chest, protruding abdomen, left hand being less flexible than the right, and a pigeon-toed gait where the left foot turns outwards when walking.Doctor's answer:
Generally speaking, we recommend surgery before school age, but not every pectus excavatum patient needs surgical treatment. For mild concavity without compression of the heart or lungs, and for patients who do not have strong surgical requirements, surgery may not be necessary. Surgery is generally recommended only for severe cases. Whether we perform surgery depends on a certain grading system, which is based on the severity of the concavity. Typically, the depth, width, and length of the deepest part of the concavity are divided by the length, width, and thickness of the chest. If the index is above 0.2, it indicates moderate pectus excavatum. Alternatively, using the water displacement method, if more than 30ml of water can be held, surgery is recommended. Surgery is also recommended if the heart or lungs are compressed, affecting the circulatory and respiratory systems.