AI Summary & Key Takeaways
AI InsightIt also constitutes a device ofsignificant efficacy, appropriate for intraoperative use during MIRPE procedure.
📌 3 Key Takeaways
Özet
Pectus Excavatum (PE) or “funnel chest,” the most common deformity of the anterior chest wall characterized by sternal depression, canbe repaired via either operative or non-invasive techniques. Vacuum Bell (VB) device is the most widespread of the latter one which canbe applied either intraoperatively or as monotherapy. The present narrative review examines the efficacy of that innovative method. Athorough search of the literature resulted in 13 English-written articles concerning VB therapy from its first description to February 2019.The studies included patients with mild to moderate PE, mainly evaluated via Haller-Index and/or sternum depth prior to and followingtreatment. Concerning depth-improvement, 37-90% showed amelioration while 10-40% of them an excellent correction to normal. In42%, Haller-Index also improved with a median decrease of 0.3 after VB application. A correlation was attempted to be found betweenthe efficacy of VB and factors such as the frequency and duration of VB application, patient age, gender, PE severity and type, and differential pressure of the suction cup. Complications may be frequent yet mild and temporary. Intraoperatively, VB widows MinimallyInvasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum (MIRPE) operation a safer procedure with greater results. VB as conservative treatment is an effectiveand well-tolerated alternative therapeutic option for selected patients with PE who meet specific criteria. It also constitutes a device ofsignificant efficacy, appropriate for intraoperative use during MIRPE procedure.