Impact of pectus excavatum deformity on the cardiopulmonary function: a literature review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pectus excavatum deformity is the most common chest wall malformation. Currently, surgeons and re-searchers of this problem have no consensus on whether pectus excavatum is a purely aesthetic problem or whether pectus excavatum disturbs the function of the cardiopulmonary system. AIM: To analyze publications on the effect of pectus excavatum on the cardiorespiratory system and the functional features of the heart and lung after thoracoplasty in patients with pectus excavatum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were searched in the scientific databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Crossref, and eLibrary without language limitation. In this article, the method of analysis and synthesis of information was used. Most of the studies included in the analysis were published in the last 20 years. RESULTS: In patients with pectus excavatum, severity of cardiorespiratory dysfunction depends on the degree of chest de-formity. According to obtained data, the pulmonary function test in patients with pectus excavatum in the majority of cases revealed restrictive pattern (formed vital capacity <80% of the norm, with normal ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 min-ute to forced lung capacity). In most cases, echocardiography showed compression of the right heart chambers. Comparative analysis of the pre-and postoperative study of cardiorespiratory system in most cases indicated improvement and adaptation of the cardiopulmonary system to stress after surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Funnel chest is an aesthetic problem wherein a severe degree of deformity leads to impaired respiratory mechanics and dysfunction of the cardiovascular system. Surgical restoration of the volume of the retrosternal space allows improvement of the functional capabilities of the heart and lungs.