[이데일리 이순용 기자] Thoracic anomaly is a term that refers to cases in which the shape of the rib cage surrounding the heart and lungs is different from normal and is commonly classified into pectus excavatum and pectus excavatum.
Pectus excavatum and pectus excavatum are the most common chest deformities. They occur due to overgrowth of the cartilage connecting the sternum and ribs. They are common enough to occur in 1% of the population, including those with mild symptoms, but are not viable -diseases that affect In many cases, active treatment is not considered. However, it is important to receive treatment for chest deformity at the appropriate time because the pain worsens with age and the appearance often becomes less attractive.
Accordingly, we will learn about the symptoms, treatment and surgical methods of pectus excavatum with the help of Professor Kim Bong-jun from the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at Ilsan Hospital of National Health Insurance.
◇The timing of treatment for pectus excavatum and pectus excavatum is important
Pectus excavatum and pectus excavatum have many similarities, with the only difference being whether the sinuses are concave or protruding. Both diseases are often discovered soon after birth, but can worsen or develop again as the child goes through the period of secondary sexual characteristics, when height increases rapidly as the child grows. Additionally, it is similar in that it rarely causes disturbances that can cause problems in real life, such as cardiopulmonary function.
Some people feel a little more breathless or feel their heart beating faster during physical activity than normal people, but this is not enough to interfere with daily life. However, due to external abnormalities, discomfort may occur when wearing clothes or a swimsuit, and the disease often manifests itself in adolescence, which is especially sensitive to appearance, so some patients may experience severe stress. Treatment of pectus excavatum and pectus excavatum requires complex consideration of both mental and external aspects.
Unfortunately, neither pectus excavatum nor pectus excavatum improves naturally, and the effectiveness of treatment decreases with age, so it is very important to decide whether or not to treat it, and if so, when to do so.
If you have surgery when you are too old, you may feel more pain and the flexibility of the bones that make up your ribcage may decrease, so your shape may not improve as much as you would like, so it is best to decide on surgery when you are upper classes of elementary or middle schools.
However, since it is possible to undergo surgery even as an adult, there is no need to worry about the timing of the surgery. However, if from the examination it is clear that there is pressure on organs such as the heart or lungs, rapid surgery is necessary, similar cases can occur especially in children, and if abnormalities are discovered through echocardiography, etc., it is necessary quick surgery.
◇ The basic treatment for pectineus is to wear a brace.
The basic way to treat pectineus is corset treatment. Most cases of pectineus improve significantly after receiving brace treatment for approximately 7-8 months.
It is difficult to say that it is simple because the brace must be worn with considerable pressure for more than 12 hours a day during the treatment period, but this brace can be effective in almost all patients as long as the wearing time is strictly adhered to. Also, since it is a non-invasive and non-invasive treatment like surgery, the advantage is that you can stop the treatment at any time if it is difficult.
For this reason, it is best for patients with pectus excavatum to receive early treatment if they have the will to cure it. Since the effectiveness of orthotic treatment decreases significantly with age and bones harden, it is best to start treatment at an early age, although it is necessary to stop it halfway because it is difficult.
◇ Pectus excavatum requires surgical treatment
Pectus excavatum is a disease that cannot be cured naturally and the basic treatment is surgery. There are non-invasive methods to treat pectus excavatum, but they are much less effective, and surgery is invasive and difficult to reverse once it is performed, so careful consideration must be given before treatment. Furthermore, since the pain after surgery is very intense, this aspect must also be taken into consideration. However, surgical techniques have continued to evolve and, unlike previous surgeries that left large wounds, one or two wounds of approximately 1.5 cm on each side of the chest are sufficient.
This surgery is a method of lifting the sternum by inserting a long iron rod under the breastbone. It has greatly improved the treatment of pectus excavatum and has led to many patients with pectus excavatum receiving treatment. Furthermore, Korea is the most advanced country in the world in pectus excavatum surgery, and the development of new surgical methods, surgical tools, and ways to deal with postoperative pain is constantly evolving.
The treatment burden has been significantly reduced compared to before, and patient satisfaction is increasing as various rod installation methods are sought to improve appearance after surgery.
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