Clinical impact of multiple pectus bars on surgical outcomes following pectus excavatum repair.

Objectives: The Nuss procedure, a minimally invasive surgery for pectus excavatum, has undergone various improvements. However, the impact of using multiple bars on thoracic shape changes and surgical outcomes remains unclear.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent the Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum between August 2014 and September 2021. We divided the patients into 2 groups based on the number of bars placed and identified differences in surgical outcomes and morphological characteristics.

Results: A total of 225 patients were evaluated, of whom 132 were classified into the ≤2 bar group (using 1 or 2 bars) and 93 into the ≥3 bar group (using 3 or more bars). There was no difference in the preoperative Haller index [median (interquartile range), 4.59 (3.67-6.16) vs 4.67 (4.12-6.14), P = 0.227], and asymmetric excavatum was more frequently observed in the ≥3 bar group (81% vs 51%, P < 0.001). The preoperative sternal torsion angle was larger in the ≥3 bar group, but no difference was found between the 2 groups postoperatively. The incidence of postoperative complications (≥grade 3) was comparable between groups (10% vs 17%, P = 0.105); however, postoperative pleurisy was more frequently observed in the ≥3 bar group (12% vs 4%, P = 0.021). In univariable and multivariable analyses, ≥3 bar placement was the only risk factor for postoperative pleurisy.

Conclusions: The placement of multiple bars (≥3 bars) is useful for the correction of asymmetric pectus excavatum, but attention should be paid to the potential risk of postoperative pleurisy.