RADIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS AFTER PECTUS EXCAVATUM REPAIR

Postoperative radiographic changes after pectus repair have not previo usly been described. We reviewed the chest radiographs of 65 children who underwent surgical repair of pectus excavatum between early 1985 a nd mid-1992. After operation, 64 children showed atelectasis, 38 had p leural effusions, 30 showed a congestion or edema pattern, 12 had pneu mothorax, 21 showed fixation strut tilt or rotation, and 3 had pneumom ediastinum. Despite the sometimes worrying radiographic appearance, th ese children uniformly did well clinically.