Severe pectus excavatum associated with cor pulmonale and chronic respiratory acidosis in a young woman.

Pectus excavatum has never been reported to cause hypercapnic respiratory failure. In this report, we describe the first such case in a young woman with severe pectus excavatum who presented with chronic respiratory acidosis, pulmonary hypertension, and chronic cor pulmonale. An extensive diagnostic workup failed to uncover any other cause of respiratory acidosis, which led us to conclude that the severe chest wall deformity and the resulting severe restrictive defect were responsible for the development of chronic respiratory acidosis and cor pulmonale.