Patient's question:
After my sister's child was born, I noticed that the child's body shape was a bit abnormal. Later, after taking the child to see a doctor, we learned that the child has pectus excavatum. Is this condition always congenital? How should it be treated? Can pediatric pectus excavatum be relieved? What are the approximate costs?Doctor's answer:
Pectus excavatum in children can be caused by congenital developmental abnormalities or prolonged calcium deficiency during early childhood, resulting in skeletal deformities of the chest cage. In general, if the pectus excavatum is not severe and does not frequently cause symptoms affecting the heart and lungs or other organs, treatment is not necessary. However, if the pectus excavatum is severe and has caused symptoms affecting the heart and lungs or other organs multiple times, surgical treatment can be performed. It is curable, and the cost depends on the local hospital where the treatment is received.