Dataset Information

Sternal elevation by the crane technique during pectus excavatum repair: A quantitative analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The crane technique is used to facilitate sternal elevation to provide safe mediastinal passage during the Nuss procedure. The aim was to objectively quantitate the elevation of the crane by 3-dimensional chest images acquired during the Nuss procedure.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was conducted. Patients undergoing the Nuss procedure were eligible. Sternal elevation was achieved by the crane technique providing a simultaneous lift of the anterior chest wall and reduction of the pectus excavatum depth. Both effects were evaluated. Three-dimensional surface images were acquired before incision, following sternal lift, and after bar implantation and quantitatively compared. Reduction of the external pectus excavatum depth was expressed as a percentage.

Results

Thirty patients were included. Ninety percent were male, with a median age of 15.5 years (interquartile range [IQR], 14.5-17.4), Haller index of 3.56 (IQR, 3.09-4.65), and external pectus depth of 18 mm (IQR, 11-23). Sternal elevation by the crane provided a median 78% (IQR, 63-100) reduction of the deformity, corresponding with a residual depth of 3 mm (IQR, 0-7). The percentual reduction diminished with increasing depth of the sternal depression (correlation, -0.86). Besides reducing the deformity, the crane caused an elevation of the anterior chest over a large surface area with a maximum lift of 26 mm (IQR, 19-32).

Conclusions

The crane is an effective sternal elevation technique, providing 78% reduction of the sternal depression, although its effect lessens with increasing depth. In addition, it produces an elevation of the anterior chest over a large surface area.

SUBMITTER: de Loos ER

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8501226 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundMinimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) is a popular method for surgical correction of PE, and its impact on quality of life is a growing area of interest. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the impact of MIRPE on the quality of life of patients.MethodsThis study was registered with PROSPERO under reference number CRD42020222061. A literature search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE and Scopus was conducted from the date of inception till November 23, 2020. We included studies which administered one or more questionnaires on patients up to 60 years old, parents or both, to assess the quality of life before and after MIRPE. Studies not written in English, abstracts, articles without primary data, reviews and studies which combined data on PE and other deformities were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Interventions and the Cochrane risk of bias tool. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to obtain mean differences for key themes of quality of life before and after MIRPE. Responses from the same questionnaires, as well as common themes across different questionnaires, were compared.ResultsOf the 20 studies identified for systematic review, 7 studies that reported the responses of 478 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Patients who underwent MIRPE experienced an increased self-esteem [standardized mean difference (SMD): 1.38, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.95 to 1.81, P<0.00001] and a smaller degree of chest interference with their social activities (SMD: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.60 to 1.08, P<0.00001). These findings were consistent even after the implanted bar was removed.ConclusionsMIRPE may be associated with a better quality of life for patients with PE as self-esteem and extent of chest interference with social activities are improved after the procedure. The key limitations of this study are the lack of high-quality evidence due to paucity of randomized trials, and the significant heterogeneity in reported outcomes due to variations in the questionnaires and timepoints of administration.