Background: We’ve observed some pectus excavatum (PE) patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) episodes and there is little information about the relation of PE with PSP. We aimed to investigate whether PE was associated with higher possibility of subpleural blebs formation.
Methods: Data were reviewed from our prospective collected PE patients’ database for Nuss procedure from 2013 to 2016. All CT scan images and reports were checked by two thoracic surgeons. Blebs formation, heights, weights, BMI and Haller index were recorded.
Results: From Jan 2013 to Dec 2016, total 162 PE patients were collected. There were 40 patients with unilateral or bilateral blebs formation. The incidence rate was 24.5%. Total 3 patients developed PSP. After using student’s t-test, there was no significant difference between the bleb group and the control group in body height, weight, BMI and Haller’s index.
Conclusions: There is a relatively high incidence rate of visible blebs formation on CT scan in PE patients. Although there was no significant relation of blebs formation in factors of body weight, height, BMI and Haller index, surgeons should be aware of high possibility of incidental finding of blebs formation in pre-operative CT scan of Nuss procedure.
