The Institute of Chest Wall Surgery
Pectus excavatum is a common chest wall deformity that usually causes no significant symptoms if the indentation is mild. This is because the heart shifts toward the left side of the chest — a compensatory mechanism that alleviates cardiac compression. However, the condition becomes dangerous if the anterior chest wall presses directly on the heart, preventing leftward displacement and even forcing the heart into the right chest cavity. This is referred to as “malignant pectus excavatum”.
Patients with malignant pectus excavatum often develop heart function abnormalities at an early stage, with clearly noticeable symptoms, and therefore require prompt surgical correction.
View surgical case studies of the heart being displaced to the right: Minimally invasive surgery for malignant pectus excavatum.
Apart from primary malignant pectus excavatum, there is also secondary malignant pectus excavatum, which is more commonly seen in cases of pectus excavatum following cardiac surgery or in recurrent cases after open pectus excavatum repair surgery. In these cases, severe adhesions keep the heart closely apposed to the depressed chest wall, preventing it from shifting left and causing direct compression that can seriously impair heart function.
If you or your family member is experiencing concerns related to pectus excavatum, or wish to learn more about surgical correction options, please don’t hesitate to contact us for a complimentary consultation. Our expert team will address your inquiries, conduct a professional evaluation, and develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
