Pectus excavatum: Increase of right ventricular systolic, diastolic, and stroke volumes after surgical repair

Objective: The study was undertaken to assess how a surgical correction of funnel chest modifies right ventricular structure and function. Methods: Be fore and 6 months after surgery in 42 patients (27 male and 15 female patie nts, aged 5-31 years), a pectus index was calculated and echocardiographic examinations of the right ventricle were performed, with calculation of sys tolic, diastolic, and stroke volume indices. Right ventricular volume was e stimated by subtracting the left ventricular volume from that of the entire heart. The values of the right ventricular volumes and the pectus index be fore and after the operation, as well as the changes in the indices, were c ompared. Results: Statistically significant changes in the pectus index and the right ventricular volume indices after surgery were noted, No correlat ion was observed between the changes in the pectus index and the changes in any right ventricular volume indices. Conclusion: Surgical treatment of fu nnel chest causes an increase in right ventricular systolic, diastolic, and stroke volumes, although there is no correlation between these changes and the degree of sternocostal elevation.