Long-term Results of Surgical Correction of Pectus Excavatum and Sternal Prominence.

In 1957, from this unit, the late E. F. Chin published a paper on 'Surgery of funnel chest and congenital sternal prominence'. He gave details concerning the aetiology and symptomatology of the condition. The paper was based on his work and experience of 54 cases. Because of Chin's particular interest in these conditions, many more patients have been referred to us and have been operated on here; and it has been possible to watch the progress of patients operated on since 1952. In his paper Chin had 21 cases which had been followed for two years or more, but none of these had been followed up for four to five years. The object of the present paper is to review the long-term follow-up of the patients operated upon, and, in the light of this, to discuss the possible aetiology of the conditions. Particular emphasis will be given to the failures and recurrences.