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Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

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Get answers to your Pediatric Surgery questions.

Dr. Strauch’s Bio | Q&A Archive

Note: This is for informational purposes only. Doctors cannot provide a diagnosis or individual treatment advice via e-mail. Please consult your physician about your specific health care concerns.

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Pectus excavatum repair - Recovery

Alternative Names

Funnel chest repair; Chest deformity repair; Sunken chest repair; Cobblerâ ' s chest repair; Nuss

After the Procedure:

It is common for children to stay in the hospital for 1 week. How long your child stays will probably depend on their level of discomfort after surgery.

Pain is common after the surgery. For the first few days, your child may receive strong pain medicine through an IV (in the vein) or through a catheter placed in the spine (an epidural). After that, pain is usually managed with medicines taken by mouth.

Your child may have tubes in their chest around the incisions. These drain extra fluid that builds up and help the lungs expand. These tubes will remain in place until they stop draining, usually after a few days.

The day after surgery, your child will be encouraged to sit up, take deep breaths, and get out of bed and walk. These activities will all help healing.

At first, your child will not be able to bend, twist, or roll from side to side. The activities they are allowed to do will slowly be increased.

When your child can walk without help, they are probably ready to go home. Before leaving the hospital, you will receive a prescription for pain medicine for your child, to fill at a pharmacy.

Outlook (Prognosis):

Improvements in appearance are usually good. Improvements in breathing or ability to exercise varies from patient to patient.

  • Reviewed last on: 2/22/2009
  • Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Tzelepis GE, McCool FD. The Lungs and Chest Wall Disease. In: Mason RJ, Murray JF, Broaddus VC, Nadel JA. Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa; 2005:chap 83.

Sugarbaker DJ, Lukanich JM. Chest Wall and Pleura. In: Townsend Jr. CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL. Townsend: Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 57.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
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