J Cardiothorac Surg
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J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2008
ReviewPeri-operative data on the Nuss procedure in children with pectus excavatum: independent survey of the first 20 years' data.
To review the literature and assess the cumulative data on the Nuss operation in children on its twenty years' anniversary: The Nuss procedure corrects the pectus excavatum by minimal access semi-permanent insertion of metal bars in order to reduce the deformity and refashion the contour of the growing thorax. The advantage over previous techniques is avoidance of osteochondrotomies and thence allowance for normal growth of the thorax. ⋯ 20 years of initial evidence suggests that the Nuss group of procedures is a safe minimal access option for correction of pectus excavatum in childhood.