Talk:Pectus excavatum/Archive 1

Photo caption
Is the photo currently in this article an example of severe pectus excavatum? Or moderate? I know what a mild case looks like, and it's way less dramatic than the photo. I would just like to accurately qualify the photo's caption. &mdash; mjb 23:47, 10 October 2005 (UTC)
 * That is severe pectus excavatum, without a doubt.--Seth Goldin 13:14, 24 November 2005 (UTC)
 * Does anyone think it would be a good idea to replace the picture with one of average/medium pectus excavatum? This would show people what the majority of cases of pectus look like.--Dominga 17:10, 18 June 2006 (UTC)

I believe I have a moderate case, should I put up a picture? - RM 9:08 AM, 11 August 2006


 * That would be good.--Seth Goldin 04:07, 14 April 2007 (UTC)


 * it would be good if we could show 2 or 3 cases next to another. but we should be carefully with the categorization. (jaja) 22 June 2007

Help with formatting
can who knows how to format pages make this look nicer for me?

--The number c 16:51, 20 Jun 2004 (UTC)

thanks Meelar --The number c 17:06, 20 Jun 2004 (UTC)

Word missing
the nuss technique involves inserting a what in the chest?

Lachatdelarue 16:36, 28 Jul 2004 (UTC)

Should be a steel bar. It was for me when I had it done, anyway. Torpov 02:51, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

"The nuss procedure is unbelievably painful and often only slightly alleviates the problem.[citation needed]"
is this edit true? it looks questionable. Mang 11:49, 28 May 2006 (UTC)

it is questionable, it was the only addition made by 70.174.185.149 and is a biased, unfounded statement which should be deleted immediately

I found it true, as my pectus excavatum has recently relasped and I had the Nuss procedure done. I also got a staph infection and the pain was excruciating. I realize that this is now always the case, however.

Pectuscast
I just added a link to Pectuscast, a podcast about my experience with pectus and the Nuss procedure. It's self-promotion, but highly relevant. If anyone disagrees with its placement here, don't hesitate to remove it.--Seth Goldin 03:34, 26 August 2006 (UTC)
 * It has stood the test of time now, and shouldn't be removed.--Seth Goldin (talk) 21:11, 13 December 2007 (UTC)

Only the sternum?
Is it common for this to only affect the sternum, or is it possible that it could also be classified as ribs being sunken only on one side?--Erciesielski 00:27, 15 October 2006 (UTC)

as far as i know it can also have an effect on the ribs. on one or both side is possible. 22 June 2007

Comments
The Nuss procedure's extremely painful, but I've got an extremely biased opinion, due to the outcome of my surgery being extremely undesirable. I succumbed to a staph infection, and it has ruined my life. I can't partake in any normal activities anymore for fear my something happening to my chest.

My ribs were affected by the defect, mostly on the left side of my chest. It should be known that the defect doesn't affect only the center of the chest (the sternum), that it can be an asymmetrical defect in many patients.

Wlmaltby3 03:02, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

hi.i m newone .i hav asymetric pectus excavatum.i got all information from the webworld about p.e.i deside to go with rivitch (bcoz nuss cant help 4 asymetric p.e.).i m not doctor. any one can say how much exactly i need for pectus corrective surgery.i m from india.what about india in this kinda surgery.how much i need take sugery in india.i cant take surgery in USA(30000$ its big money 4 me).k.plz reply me.

I also had the Nuss procedure and found it extremely painful. I've never had another surgury to compare it to, but maybe it would be something worth noting, if it wasn't original research. 207.181.15.218 02:36, 16 March 2007 (UTC)


 * Make no mistake. My doctor warned me that it would be the equivalence in pain of breaking every rib, even though you are actually bending them.  However, they took care of me in the hospital, and took every measure to make sure that I was comfortable.  The six weeks after the surgery were tough, with mornings, waking up after lying on your back without being able to roll over, being very painful.  In the end however, I would highly encourage anyone with a severe pectus excavatum, even those who may think that they are asymptomatic, to go through with it.  I assure everyone that within six to eight weeks the pain was gone for me.


 * As for the staph infection, Wlmaltby3, that sounds like a highly uncommon circumstance. I had my procedure done at the world center for pectus, where Dr. Nuss developed it, so I may be biased in my assessment of the procedure, when it is performed perfectly.  I do not know how other doctors in other locations have been trained, and what could account for your unfortunate complications, but I would not discourage someone to consider the procedure because of an exceedingly rare complication.


 * To the Indian man, I am uneducated on doctors who perform the Ravitch. That was a very rare operation, and now it is becoming even more rare because of the promotion of the Nuss procedure.  Because you can at least roughly diagnose yourself, you should search for a doctor who can do it.  I don't know much about the healthcare system in India, but if it's anything like the United States,' then you should ask for a referral to a thoracic surgeon who can perform the Ravitch.  I hope that helps, but I'm not exactly sure what help you expect from an online collaborative encyclopedia.--Seth Goldin 21:58, 11 April 2007 (UTC)

To the person in India-I recently had the Nuss procedure done and had severe, assymetrical P.E. it can be done, and although the results weren't perfect I would definitely recommend this less invasive alternative. BTW generally these procedures are done by Pediatricians, even if you are an adult.-User:DjScoo —Preceding comment was added at 03:09, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

Non-surgical corrective procedures
There's the vaccuum thing but since i have it and don't want the Nuss procedure and can't have the first one (I'm too old) and since mine is moderate I know there are daily excercises to help it. I threw my sheet away because I hate this condition and don't want to see any evidence of it (loosing the excersizes), so someone can check WebMD or something, I don't know.

Come to know my condition clinical name
To my suprise I now come to know that I am not the only person to suffer from this Pectus excavatum(Only when I saw this article) condition.

This condition happens when I was around kindergarden age. When my parent started to notice my lower spine bone is getting more curve, and so the days goes by my centre part of my chest started to sank inward... so until now. My parent did bring me to see a doctor, but the doctor just said that it will be better when I grow older. And so I waited while trying to hide that sanken part of my chest while i'm schooling. And like what this article wrote that this condition might lead the individual to having social problem, and that's was very true about it, cause I've experienced it in school and now already. And so until now I'm 21 years old and still there is no improvement like what my doctor said in the past to me.

And so now I'm hoping for a surgery that can do the job for me. -25/07/07 Beno1986 04:37, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

It doesnt fix itself. Ive never had a social problem with it, mostly i show it off. If it didnt hurt and affect my breathing, id actually like having it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 207.181.15.218 (talk) 22:59, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

Inverted sternum
When I had this condition diagnosed, the doctor called it an "inverted sternum", and it also shows up on web searches. Should this name not be added to the main page? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.148.42.30 (talk) 04:26, 19 September 2007 (UTC)
 * I think that along with the clinical name, there are plenty of other slang terms here from which someone looking for the article could find it. After all, you found it, even starting with a different name.--Seth Goldin (talk) 21:29, 13 December 2007 (UTC)

Can it be caused by?
Can a sunken chest be caused by an automobile accident? 67.40.37.41 (talk) 16:11, 5 January 2008 (UTC)

Ravitch Section Misleading
Having undergone the procedure myself last month, I think it should at least be noted on the description that the techniques for performing this procedure varry somewhat between surgeons. While I am unusually lucky in that I have no foreign materials holding my sternum in place, the description given of "It is usually kept in place with an apparatus worn around the chest" seems to having no supporting evidence anywhere (including in my conversations with my surgeon). {hodgetts} 04:03, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

The Haller Index
Should a section be added about how to calculate the serveity of PE. The Haller index, which requires a CT scan to compute, is used by physicians to determine the severity. Stepshep (talk) 21:09, 20 January 2008 (UTC)
 * Yes, go ahead and put that in. It's important.--Seth Goldin (talk) 17:51, 10 February 2008 (UTC)


 * When I get my CT scan back I'll put it in, so I can include a Diagram Stepshep (talk) 01:42, 12 February 2008 (UTC)

Lead paragraph
Looking at WP:LEAD it seems the main paragraph either needs to be cut down, or new information be added to the article. The lead touches on many subjects that are not again touched in the rest of the article. A possible collaboration of efforts to revise the lead may be found at: User:Stepshep/Pectus/Lead

Thanks Stepshep (talk) 23:44, 23 February 2008 (UTC)