Silastic implant for reconstruction of pectus excavatum: An update

Twenty-seven patients were operated on for pectus excavatum between 1985 an d 1996 and had a custom-made subcutaneous Silastic implant inserted. We hav e reviewed their medical records to evaluate the clinical course, and used a questionnaire to assess the subjective outcome. There were no major surgi cal complications. Sixteen of the 27 patients reported improved appearance, and 11 would definitely recommend the operation to other patients under si milar circumstances. Increased familiarity with the technique has led to im plants with better size and shape, shorter hospital stay, and also to patie nts being more confident with the outcome. Augmentation with a custom-made Silastic implant is still a simple and straightforward way of concealing th e deformity and alleviating the subjective discomfort in patients with pect us excavatum, whose cardiopulmonary function is within the normal range.