Abstract:

Objective To explore the cardiorespiratory function and surgical outcomes of children with severe pectus excavatum deformity. Methods Eighteen children with severe pectus excavatum deformity (case group) and 18 matched normal children (normal control group) were examined. Doppler echocardiographic examinations and pulmonary function tests were performed. Results Compared with normal control group, the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), stroke volume (SV), residual volume (RV), residual volume/total lung capacity(RV/TLC), forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1）in case group were significantly decreased （P<0.05 or P<0.01）. The postoperative EF, SV, FVC and FEV1 were significantly higher than the preoperative ones in case group（P<0.05 or P<0.01）. Conclusion There is impairment of cardiorespiratory function in children with severe pectus excavatum deformity, which is characterized by decrease of ventricular systolic function and restrictive ventilatory disorder, and surgical treatment may improve the cardiorespiratory function.

Key words: pectus excavatum deformity, Doppler echocardiography, cardiac function, pulmonary function, children