Pectus Excavatum Questions and Answers (FAQs) is an informative space for the patient. Here you will find the most frequently asked questions and answers to easily understand everything about the corrective treatment of Pectus Excavatum<\/a> with Pectus Up<\/a>. A section designed to guide you and help you solve your doubts about the surgical treatment of Pectus Excavatum.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> There is a genetic predisposition to this type of chest wall deformity.<\/p>\n However, the pattern of inheritance is not fully defined and many people develop this deformity without any family history.<\/p>\n Most cases appear in isolation, although in some patients it may be associated with hereditary connective tissue disorders. For this reason, each case should be assessed individually.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> According to the available scientific literature, the most favorable stage for the surgical correction of pectus excavatum is usually during adolescence, approximately between 12 and 16 years of age.<\/p>\n During this period, the chest wall still retains greater flexibility, which facilitates the remodeling of the thorax and may favor recovery after surgery. It also tends to coincide with a stage in which the deformity may become more noticeable due to growth and in which the psychological impact can be significant.<\/p>\n That said, thanks to the ease of the Pectus Up technique, adult patients can also benefit from surgical treatment with this new technique.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> For pediatric patients, surgical repair of Pectus Excavatum was previously recommended in symptomatic cases as soon as possible. However, it has recently been shown that the results are not as positive in very young children and, for this reason, it is currently recommended to delay the age of surgery, establishing a minimum age of 8 years.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Based on an individual medical assessment, exercise can form part of the management of pectus excavatum to improve general physical condition, promote proper posture and enhance the mobility of the rib cage.<\/p>\n Stretching, postural strengthening and breathing exercises can help improve chest expansion and functional respiratory capacity. Activities such as swimming can be beneficial as they combine cardiovascular work, breathing control and muscle strengthening.<\/p>\n However, the type, intensity and frequency of exercise should be adapted to each patient according to their age and the characteristics of the deformity, based on the guidance of a specialist.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Upper trunk (rib cage) exercises can serve as a complement to improve breathing and strength-endurance, but they do not correct the malformation. Muscle-building exercises can be performed, although care must be taken, as they can sometimes make the sinking of the chest even more noticeable. We recommend seeking the advice of specialists in this field.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> The best option is, without a doubt, stretching exercises, which help achieve as upright a posture as possible.<\/p>\n It should not be forgotten that warm-up exercises are essential for good physical adaptation and to avoid overstretching that could lead to injury.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> You must be careful with personal hygiene to ensure proper wound control and avoid possible infections. The wound cannot be touched or wet. In addition, the dressing must not be lifted until the first check-up with the surgeon. It is recommended to practice deep breathing exercises several times a day.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Good posture should be maintained. Abnormal or rigid postures that may a priori avoid pain should not be adopted, since they can be the cause of other later alterations. It is not advisable to remain in a decubitus position (lying down) for a long time.<\/p>\n It is advisable to sleep on your back and avoid lying on your side during sleep (at least during the first month, if possible).<\/p>\n Avoid exposure to risky situations, crowded environments and violent physical contact.<\/p>\n Wide movements of the torso should be avoided, as well as abrupt rotations of the torso, lifting weights or carrying backpacks during the first month.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> The usual size of the scar is about 3-5 cm, approximately the width of the implant.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> If the wound undergoes any change, such as suppuration, swelling and\/or opening of any area of the wound, the surgeon should be consulted.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> The postoperative period is usually not very painful and is mostly managed with minor analgesics (ibuprofen, paracetamol).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> After medical discharge, it is important to follow the specialist’s instructions and adhere to the prescribed analgesic treatment plan to control pain during recovery.<\/p>\n If pain appears, the patient should only take the medication recommended by the surgical team, following the indicated doses and schedules. If the pain does not improve, increases, or if any symptom appears that causes concern, it is important to contact the specialist to assess the situation.<\/p>\n Each patient evolves differently, so pain management should be adapted individually throughout the recovery process.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> The concept of “normal life” may vary from one person to another. In general terms, daily life is understood as carrying out social, family, work or academic activities with a low to moderate level of physical activity, avoiding those involving high risk or intense effort.<\/p>\n After the surgical repair of pectus excavatum using the Pectus Up method, the patient is advised to rest for approximately one week after the intervention. Afterwards, they may gradually resume their daily activities, always following the surgeon’s instructions and respecting their individual recovery plan.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Thanks to the low level of pain and the good recovery, operated patients can usually return to their daily routine (school, work) within a relatively short time after the intervention, although this depends on the activity involved in their profession.<\/p>\n In general, it is advisable to wait between 2 and 3 weeks before returning to school or to sedentary jobs. For more active professions, it is recommended to consult the surgeon.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Sleep on your back and avoid lying on your side during sleep (at least during the first month, if possible).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> The rest period is about one week after surgery.<\/p>\n This will consist of gradually resuming daily activities, maintaining good posture and avoiding movements that cause pain.<\/p>\n Refrain from sports activities during the three months following the operation, including weight lifting.<\/p>\n The patient will be able to go to class or to their usual work two to three weeks after the operation, as long as it does not involve sports activities, lifting weights or the use of backpacks, and always respecting the surgeon’s recommendations.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> The implant can be removed from 2 years after the operation.<\/p>\n It will always depend on the evolution of each particular patient, and always at the surgeon’s discretion.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> In child or adolescent patients, it will depend on the growth phase they are in (age, height, chest width) at the time of the operation and what changes they undergo in the 2 years that follow. An important fact is that Pectus Up never hinders the growth of the thorax.<\/p>\n If there are very significant changes in the person, it can be considered to modify the size of the implant for one adapted to the new size of the thorax. It is a very simple operation in which the sternal plate is kept in the thorax and therefore the bony area is not altered.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Once the implant has been removed, the patient can lead a normal social, academic and professional life.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> As with other implants or osteosynthesis material made of medical stainless steel:<\/p>\n The implant or any of its components may loosen or shift. Visualization of the edges of the plate is not possible, as the plate is implanted subpectorally. In patients with pectoralis muscle involvement, each individual patient should be assessed before the intervention.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>PECTUS EXCAVATUM<\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>Is Pectus Excavatum hereditary?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>What is the best age for surgical treatment of Pectus Excavatum?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>What age is recommended for pediatric patients?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>Is physical exercise recommended for a patient affected by Pectus Excavatum?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>Can gymnastic exercise correct or improve Pectus Excavatum?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>What kind of activities are the most advisable?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
POST INTERVENTION<\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>What are the common cares that will have to be carried out right after a Pectus Excavatum surgery with the Pectus Up?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>What precautions should I take after Pectus Excavatum surgery with Pectus Up?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>What is the size of the scar remaining after surgical repair of Pectus Excavatum with the Pectus Up?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>What to do if alterations appear in the wound?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>Is the postoperative period painful?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>What to do in case of pain?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>When will I be able to lead a normal life once the Pectus Up procedure has been carried out?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>How long should I be on sick leave or not go to school?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>Should you sleep in a specific position after Pectus Excavatum surgery with the Pectus Up?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>How long is the rest period and what does it consist of?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>When is the Pectus Up implant removed from the thorax in an adult patient? Can the Pectus Up implant remain implanted forever?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>When should the Pectus Up implant be removed from the thorax in younger patients or in children?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>What care should be taken into account after the removal of the Pectus Up implant?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>What are the possible side effects after the intervention?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
\nSensitivity reactions to metals or allergic reactions to the implant material may occur.
\nThe patient may feel abnormal pain or a sensation of discomfort due to the presence of the implant.
\nWound irritation or infection.
\nSeroma.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/i><\/i><\/span>Will the edges of a plate be apparent on the skin surface?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>