The Institute of Chest Wall Surgery
Minimally Invasive Surgery for a 45-Year-Old Patient with Barrel Chest
Medical History
The patient is a 45-year-old male who has suffered from chest wall deformity since adolescence, characterized by an overall protrusion of the anterior chest wall, giving the thorax a barrel-like appearance. Although the patient does not experience physical discomfort, the abnormal chest contour caused significant psychological distress and a strong desire for surgical correction.
Preoperative Examination
The anterior chest wall exhibits an overall protrusion, and the anteroposterior diameter of the thorax increases significantly, resulting in a barrel-shaped appearance. The patient was diagnosed with barrel chest.
Surgical Overview
Two incisions, each 4 cm long, were made on both sides of the chest wall to perform the Wenlin procedure using three steel bars. The surgery was carried out smoothly without any intraoperative complications. After the surgery, the deformity disappeared, and the appearance of the chest wall returned to normal.
