CARDIAC PERFORATION AFTER SURGICAL REPAIR OF PECTUS EXCAVATUM

Five days after surgical repair of pectus excavatum, this 7-year-old b oy had a right-sided Kirschner wire protruding beneath the skin. The w ire was repositioned blindly. Severe congestive heart failure develope d. Surgical exploration showed a pierced right atrium, a torn septal l eaflet of the tricuspid valve and noncoronary aortic cusp, and a large traumatic ventricular septal defect. The outcome and the indications and possible complications of surgery are discussed. Copyright (C) 199 5 by W.B. Saunders Company.