Application of the Nuss procedure for flail chest following cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a case report.

Background: The Nuss procedure is a minimally invasive surgical procedure for treating pectus excavatum. Recently, its application has been extended to flail chest.

Case description: A 72-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with ventricular fibrillation caused by acute myocardial infarction. The patient underwent cardiac catheterization and coronary artery stenting following cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The patient was referred to Fukaya Red Cross Hospital owing to dyspnea caused by a flail chest following CPR. Being an elderly woman, the supporting tissues of the thorax had weakened, and she had a pronounced flail chest, a labored breathing pattern, and severe respiratory distress. Although there is the disadvantage that cardiac massage would become difficult, the cardiologist determined that cardiac function had stabilized after stent placement and that the likelihood of cardiac massage being necessary was extremely low, and therefore it was determined that repair using the Nuss method would be preferable. Two Nuss bars were inserted. Following the procedure, her respiratory condition improved, and she was discharged. Eight months later, the collapse of the anterior chest wall had resolved, and the Nuss bars were removed. However, the patient developed bilateral pneumothoraces post-removal. Thoracic drainage was performed, leading to improvement, and she was subsequently discharged.

Conclusions: This is a rare case of using the Nuss procedure to treat flail chest following CPR. Despite the occurrence of bilateral pneumothorax after Nuss bar removal, the patient's respiratory condition significantly improved, and she had a favorable prognosis.