What is pectus excavatum and what type of anesthetic is used for this surgery?
Pectus excavatum is a condition involving the anterior chest and sternum (breast bone) in which the area is sunken or curved inward. Patients often experience shortness of breath or chest pains with activity. A procedure for correction of the deformity, which does not involve removing any ribs or breaking the sternum, has been developed by Dr. Donald Nuss, a pediatric general surgeon at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters. The anesthetic for this procedure is a combination of general anesthesia and epidural anesthesia. The epidural is placed after the patient is asleep for younger patients, and under sedation in older patients. The epidural is placed in the midthoracic area and remains in place for two to three days after surgery to provide postoperative pain relief. The pain management is monitored by the anesthesiologist until the epidural is removed, at which time pain control is maintained with oral or intravenous medication.
