Nuss procedure how long

If you have a long drive, try to schedule an overnight stay to break up the trip. If you are traveling by plane, arrange for wheel chair service at the airport and at each layover stop, should the need arise. Requesting bulkhead seats will also provide a bit more leg room and make your child more comfortable during the plane ride.

If you live out of state, you need to schedule a post-op visit with your child's pediatrician or primary care physician within two to four weeks of returning home. We will contact your child's healthcare provider and provide a comprehensive report of the procedure and what to look for at this visit.

The next planned visits to CHKD are at six months, one year and at the two- or three-year anniversary to have the bar removed. Help me find at CHKD. Nuss Procedure FAQs. Our Location. Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters. Fifth Floor. Norfolk, VA Other Questions? Click Here to Email Us. More Than A Hospital. Call Us Directly or Email us at healthinfo chkd. The surgery to correct pectus excavatum is called the Nuss Procedure, a minimally-invasive technique in which metal bars are inserted behind the sternum to correct the chest wall deformity.

In preparation leading up to the surgery, Dr. Gorenstein was incredible. He answered all of my questions, explained in great detail what would occur during the surgery and what I should expect in recovery.

The recovery period for the Nuss Procedure typically involves days of hospitalization, with additional weeks of convalescing at home. For Julija, recovering back to her whole self took three months.

It was frustrating to rely so heavily on my family when it came to simple tasks that were previously so easy to complete. Even a few months out, Julija still experienced discomfort from the procedure from time to time. But she also noticed the benefits of the surgery. It is important to be aware that though only rarely reported in the medical literature there have been cases of heart injury resulting in death. Following surgery arrangements will be made for a follow-up appointment usually weeks following discharge and then once again at around weeks after surgery.

After that we would recommend an annual review until the bar is removed. We do recommend the bar is removed and not simply left in as once the chest wall has corrected and remodelled the bar serves no ongoing purpose.

Typically, the bar is left in for 2. Removing the bar involves a general anaesthetic through the same incisions the bar is removed. It is typically done as a day case procedure or with a one-night stay. Very occasionally a soft tissue drain may be used in the wound though this is uncommon. The operation is regarded as minor, however there have been reports in the literature of bleeding complications when the bar is removed including rare deaths reported worldwide.

Therefore, precautions including equipment to enlarge the incision are made available. Often a concern, the risk of relapse particularly significant relapse is low For our outcomes of surgical correction for your pectus deformity with the Nuss procedure see our results and before and after photos in the gallery. Read some of our patient experiences:. Contact us. Click here to view the Nuss Procedure video Warning: contains images of surgery. What does a Nuss operation involve?

Is the Nuss operation suitable for everyone? What is the evidence a Nuss operation works? Does the Pectus Clinic have evidence of successful outcomes? Do I need specific investigations prior to the Nuss operation?

What happens before the operation? What happens on the day of surgery? What happens after the surgery while I am in hospital?

What happens when I am discharged? What is the typical recovery following a Nuss operation? What should I expect in terms of recovery following the Nuss operation? What exercises and activities can I do after the Nuss operation? What complications can occur after a Nuss operation? Complications associated with this type of surgery include: Wound Problems including: Infection — All precautions including antibiotics during and immediately after surgery are taken but wound infection is a risk with all surgery.

If infection occurs, dressings and antibiotics are usually all that is required. Rarely, further surgery to clean the wound is required. Seroma — Build-up of a fluid in the wound, is uncommon but can occur even several weeks after surgery. Simple compressive dressings are all that is usually required. Numbness — anaesthesia of the skin around the wound is normal but typically regresses spontaneously over a few months, though a small area of permanent numbness may persist around the scar.

Healing abnormalities — Since the healing process involves a somewhat random phenomenon, sometimes scars are not, in the end, as discreet as desired, and might have very different aspects: wide, retractile, adhesive, hyper or hypo-pigmented darker or lighter scars , hypertrophic swollen or even exceptionally keloid The name given to a scar that overgrows and becomes larger than the original wound.

At the time of the surgery it can usually be stopped simply but may require a bigger cut to be made. After surgery, bleeding can occur and result in a haemothorax blood in the pleural cavity which may require a chest drain to be inserted or return to theatre to evacuate the blood.

Pneumothorax occurs when the lung following surgery does not fully re-expand and air in the pleural space remains. Pleural effusion is fluid building up in the pleural cavity around the lung. It is rare but unpredictable and is usually treated with rest and anti-inflammatory medication. The pericardial effusion may need to be monitored and very rarely drained. The risk of bar displacement is typically in the first 6 weeks and can be reduced by restricting physical activities during this period.

Advice will be given but sudden twisting movements particularly when lifting should be avoided. If you have sudden severe pain and feel bar movement, you must let us know. Chronic Pain associated with the bar after surgery has been described and is usually mild, intermittent and can be related to specific movements or activities.

It is not common, rarely significant and can be treated with painkillers if needed. How many times do I need to be seen after the operation? How long does the bar need to remain in? What does the bar removal involve?