Patient's question:
My baby is a girl and is now eight months old. During a thorough medical examination at the hospital, it was discovered that she has a slight funnel chest. How should funnel chest be treated?Doctor's answer:
Pectus excavatum refers to a deformity where the sternum, costal cartilage, and part of the ribs curve inward, forming a funnel-like shape. The treatment for pectus excavatum in children is called corrective treatment. It aims to correct the more severe chest deformity to achieve a basically normal chest, restoring the chest wall to its original shape or form. Currently, minimally invasive surgery is adopted. This procedure involves placing a pre-formed metal bar behind the sternum through the chest cavity. The bar is supported by the ribs, pushing the sternum back to its normal arc shape.