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Clinical manifestations

Authoring team

Patients with severe pectus excavatum show cardiorespiratory problems and increased susceptibility to infection.

Patients with a mild to moderate funnel chest tend to be asymptomatic at rest. However, studies conducted by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute conclude that these patients:

  • have cardiac and respiratory insufficiency
  • have significantly lower working capacity in the sitting position than the supine position
  • demonstrate a lower increase in stroke volume when going from rest to exercise in the sitting position compared to normal patients - believed to result from poorer ventricular filling
  • show marked improvements in cardiac output during intense upright exercise following corrective surgery

Reference:

  • Beiser et al (1972). Impairment of cardiac function with Pectus excavatum. NEJM, 287, 267.

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