The Pectus Up technique has reached Malta, where the first two surgical corrections of Pectus Excavatum using this innovative method were successfully performed on two young patients. Both procedures were completed without complications, achieving excellent clinical outcomes and a rapid postoperative recovery, reflecting one of the key advantages of the Pectus Up technique over conventional surgical approaches. The technique is characterised by its minimally invasive, extrathoracic approach, avoiding entry into the thoracic cavity while enabling effective correction of the deformity.
The surgeries were carried out at Mater Dei Hospital in Msida, Malta’s principal public acute and teaching hospital. Affiliated with the University of Malta, Mater Dei is the country’s leading centre for specialist and tertiary healthcare. The introduction of Pectus Up at this institution represents an important milestone in expanding access to innovative chest wall surgery for patients in Malta and the wider Mediterranean region.
The introduction of the technique was accompanied by a dedicated training programme for the local surgical team. The operation was carried out thanks to Dr. David Sladden, the Maltese surgeon who led the procedure, and Dr. Shyam Kolvekar, an experienced Pectus Up proctor who travelled to Malta to provide hands-on training during the first procedures, with the participation of Dr. George Sotiropoulos, who travelled from Greece specifically to learn the technique and take part in these inaugural cases.
Dr. David Sladden, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Mater Dei Hospital, has an extensive background in thoracic surgery and has completed postgraduate training at the University of Edinburgh, where he obtained a Master’s degree, in addition to his surgical training and membership of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (MRCS). Throughout his career, he has developed expertise in both adult cardiac and thoracic surgery, with a particular interest in adopting advanced surgical techniques. By leading the introduction of the Pectus Up technique at Mater Dei Hospital, Dr. Sladden has brought a new minimally invasive treatment option for Pectus Excavatum to Malta, further reinforcing the hospital’s commitment to innovation and excellence in thoracic surgery.
With these first successful procedures, Malta becomes the latest country to adopt the Pectus Up technique, continuing the international expansion of the innovative solution developed by Ventura Medical Technologies. Today, Pectus Up is available in a growing number of countries worldwide, allowing more patients to benefit from a minimally invasive, extrathoracic and effective treatment for Pectus Excavatum.
