Pectus Excavatum Sternum Surgery: The Nuss Procedure
The Nuss Procedure was developed in 1987 by Dr. Donald Nuss as a minimally invasive procedure for people living with Pectus Excavatum. The Nuss procedure is a popular sunken chest sternum surgery which takes approximately 2 hours to complete as it requires two incisions on one side of the chest developed by Dr. Donald Nuss. An introducer is carefully inserted within, along with a stainless steel bar in order to press against the sternum which positions the sternum away from the heart and emulating a chest without Pectus Excavatum. Over the course of two years you will be able to remove the stainless steel bar from your chest.
Nuss Procedure Recovery
People have noted that they have improved their physical fitness and stamina after the surgery was completed after a week of rest within the hospital. Originally meant for younger patients, older patients have had excellent results even with severe pectus excavatum!
During this time some users may need to wear a chest brace, this brace is useful for people who have not committed into the surgical treatment. If you decided not to commit to surgery then be sure to practice good posture!
Pectus Excavatum Surgery Cost
People have a suggested a cost range of $30,000-$40,000 for the Nuss Procedure within the USA, prices may vary elsewhere (and depending on insurance policies and regulations). Highest price was upwards of $70,000. This video below is a demonstration of the Nuss procedure in practice, it goes through the full surgery. Video Discretion is advised, there is blood so if you are squeamish of surgery videos, this is not for you! Also search for other sternum surgeries, and the possibility of having scoliosis.
I would like to thank the uploader for the video! This is an embedded video by a separate YouTuber showing the Nuss Procedure's full surgery process. Viewer discretion is advised.
I have not done this minimally invasive procedure, nor have I done the Ravitch Procedure. I made my own decisions on whether or not I wanted to commit into the surgery and I have worked on to attempt to improve it, so here's the reason why I haven't done any surgeries for Pectus Excavatum.