Pulmonary embolism: a late complication of pectus excavatum repair

Post-operative arrest following pectus excavatum repair: A case report with a systematic review of the published case reports

Key Clinical Message

Common complications after PE surgery include ventricular tachycardia, cardiac arrest, pneumothorax, and bar displacement. These can lead to severe outcomes, emphasizing the need for caution and meticulous post-operative monitoring. Patients and their families should be well-informed about potential risks during the consent process.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to raise awareness among medical staff and surgeons about potential complications, particularly rare and life-threatening ones, associated with pectus excavatum (PE) surgery. PE is the most common chest wall deformity, characterized by sternal depression. Patients primarily seek treatment for cosmetic concerns, but some also report exercise intolerance and shortness of breath. Although surgical repair is the standard treatment, the incidence and nature of severe complications remain unclear and underreported. This study presents a case of a lethal cardiac event following PE surgery and conducts a systematic review of published case reports. This study describes a case of a lethal complication of ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest following the Ravitch procedure for correction of PE in a 10-year-old boy. A systematic review of relevant cases of PE surgery complications was conducted. Of the 506 initial records retrieved, 93 case reports from 83 articles were identified over the 23 years. Among them, 72 patients were male, and 20 cases were female. The average age of patients was 19.2 ± 7.7 years (range: 5-53). Complications had occurred up to 37 years from the time of surgery, with most of the cases (22.5%) occurring during the operation. The most frequent complications included cardiothoracic issues and displacement of the implanted steel bar. In nine patients, complications led to fatal outcomes. Due to the possible risks of PE surgery, particularly in cosmetically motivated cases, surgeons must exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant for rare and potentially life-threatening complications.

Pulmonary endarterectomy for patients with chronic thromboembolic disease

Objective:

Chronic thromboembolic disease (CTED) is characterized by persistent pulmonary thromboembolic occlusions without pulmonary hypertension. Early surgical treatment by performing pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) may improve symptoms. The goal of the study was to review our experience and early outcome of PEA in patients with CTED.

Methods:

Data were prospectively collected on all patients who underwent PEA between 2011 and 2015. Patients with CTED and a mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) of <25 mm Hg were identified. All patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II or III. Measured outcomes were in-hospital complications, improvement in cardiac function and exercise capacity, and survival after PEA. Patients were reassessed at 6 months following surgery.

Results:

A total of 23 patients underwent surgery. There was no in-hospital mortality, but complications occurred in six patients (26%). At 6 months following surgery, 93% of the patients remained alive. Following PEA, the mPAP fell significantly from 21.0±2.7 mm Hg to 18.2±5.5 mm Hg (p<.001). Pulmonary vascular resistance also significantly decreased from 2.2±0.7 wood to 1.5±0.5 wood (p<.001). The 6-min walking distance significantly increased from 322.6±80.4 m to 379.9±68.2 m (p<.001). There was a significant symptomatic improvement in all survivors in NYHA functional classes I or II at 6 months following surgery (p=.001).

Conclusion:

PEA in selected patients with CTED resulted in significant improvement in symptoms. The selection of patients for undergoing PEA in the absence of pulmonary hypertension must be made based on patients’ expectations and their acceptance of the perioperative risk.