Complications - Pectus excavatum correction

Overall, life-threatening complications occur very rarely. (< 0.1%)

• During the passage of the bar, both heart and lung injuries are possible. Here, a tactile approach under constant thoracoscopic vision is essential.
• Sternal fracture
• Bleeding, particularly due to injury of the intercostal vessels or the internal thoracic artery

The postoperative complications primarily correspond to those of video-assisted thoracoscopy:

• Allergy (5%)
• Pneumothorax (9-16%)
• Wound infection (1-3%)
• Pneumonia (1%)
• Hemothorax (0.1%)
• Pleural effusion (2-5%)
• Reoperation (2-5%)

As surgery- and bar-associated complications, the following may occur:

• Allergy, whereby testing for the metal used should be conducted preoperatively
• Dislocation (1-4%)
• Recurrence (1%)