Preventing bar-related complications for chest wall deformities

Aim: Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum and Abramson procedure for pectus carinatum are used as minimally invasive methods for surgical treatment of chest wall defomities. The aim of this study is to investigate the causes of bar-related complications, and to present technical details of their management. Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent minimally invasive correction surgery with the diagnosis of pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum between 2011-2020 in our clinic were included in this study. The surgical treatments, bar related complications, and follow-up records of patients were recorded and analyzed retrospectively. Results: 141 patients with a mean age of 16.08 ± 4.38 were included in the study. Postoperative bar-related complications were encountered in 28 (19.8%) of all patients. There were no life-threatening early or late complications. The most common complication was skin reaction in 7 (4.9%) cases. Conclusion: Bar-related complications are problems that can cause morbidity and disrupt patient comfort, thus management of complications should be focused on.