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Inside the waiting room at CHKD's Nuss Center where a couple of patients are waiting.

Nuss Center FAQ

Contact the Nuss Center at CHKD

Phone: (757) 668-6877
Email: Pectus.Surgery@CHKD.org

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Contáctenos de lunes a viernes de 8:00 a. m. a 4:30 p. m. al (757) 668-9323.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pectus Excavatum and the Nuss Procedure

Is there a surgical correction for pectus excavatum?

Yes. The most widely used corrective surgery for Pectus Excavatum is the Nuss Procedure, a groundbreaking treatment developed right here at CHKD.

What kind of doctor should I see for pectus excavatum?

Typically, pediatric general/thoracic surgeons, or adult thoracic surgeons, who have been trained in pectus surgeries like the Nuss procedure will do pectus excavatum repairs. There is an “open” procedure called a Ravitch procedure that is more invasive and used much less.

Meet the care team at CHKD's Nuss Center.

What is the best age for the Nuss procedure?

The Nuss procedure can be performed at any age but ideally around puberty, and usually not before 10 years of age. The median age of our patients is 15 years old.

At what age does pectus excavatum get worse?

The median age of patients receiving the Nuss Procedure at CHKD is 15.

What is a severe case of pectus excavatum?

When the Haller index or the Correction index is higher, these are considered more severe cases of pectus excavatum. The Haller index is a pectus excavatum severity score using CT scans.

Is the Nuss procedure a painful surgery?

The Nuss procedure, despite being a minimally invasive surgery, can be a painful surgical procedure. There are several strategies used to optimize postoperative pain control in this population.

Pain management after the Nuss procedure at CHKD.

Is the Nuss procedure risky?

At experienced centers like CHKD, the risks of complications with this procedure are very low.

Can you do CPR with a Nuss bar?

Yes. CPR can be performed with the Nuss bars in place. More force is recommended. A medical bracelet or necklace is recommended.

What happens if a Nuss Bar moves?

Pectus hardware can shift or move after surgery, but this is rare. Depending on the severity and timing, pectus hardware may need to be repositioned.

Does pectus excavatum disqualify military duty?

Typically, it does not. Pectus excavatum is different for each person with the diagnosis. The only way someone may be disqualified from military service would be due to symptoms of the condition, such as exercise intolerance due to compression of the heart and or lungs.

Can pectus excavatum come back after Nuss procedure?

The Nuss Procedure, as with any medical procedure, comes with a risk of failure or complication. The failure rate of the Nuss Procedure performed at CHKD is less than 1%.

View our outcome data here.

Can the Nuss procedure fail?

Some patients have experienced complications requiring the surgery to be redone. Although this is very rare for CHKD surgeons, it is possible.

Can you live a long life with pectus excavatum?

You can live a long normal life with pectus excavatum. As one might imagine, a severe case of pectus excavatum could impact lung and heart function that could result in other conditions that may impact performance.

Learn more about the patient experience at CHKD's Nuss Center. 

What happens if you don’t fix pectus excavatum?

Typically, the deformity will get worse in younger patients and stay about the same in older patients.

Can pectus excavatum cause heart failure?

Pectus Excavatum is not known to cause heart failure.

Is there a nonsurgical approach to treating pectus excavatum?

The vacuum bell is an alternative to surgical treatment for the condition. The device acts like a suction cup on the chest. The surgeons will recommend how often to wear the device, at what pressure and how many months or years.

How long is the hospital stay after the Nuss procedure?

The typical stay following the Nuss Procedure averages 3 days.

Is the Nuss procedure outpatient?

The Nuss procedure performed at Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters is considered inpatient. The typical stay will be a little over 3 days.

What can you not do after the Nuss procedure?

You will have restrictions typically up to three months after the Nuss Procedure. Our program will review the details of this at the time of consultation.

Does treating sunken chest offer physical and emotional benefits?

Physical improvement following pectus surgery has been documented extensively. Patients have also consistently reported improved self-image and greater physical capacity.

Former patient Chris Baione shares how having the Nuss procedure at CHKD helped him gain the confidence he always wanted. See his story below.

Can pectus excavatum improve self-perception?

Almost all patients who have chest wall surgery report an improved self-image.

What happens during the Nuss procedure?

Hardware is placed in the chest in such a fashion that it elevates the sternum to a more normal position.

Does pectus excavatum qualify for disability?

We are not familiar with anyone qualifying for disability services due to a diagnosis of pectus excavatum or carinatum. Although pectus conditions may contribute to a disability, that disability qualification would be the result of another diagnosis.

Which surgeons at CHKD redo a failed pectus surgery?

Surgeons at the Nuss Center have a long history of success helping patients with some of the most complicated situations.

Can a previous Nuss procedure be revised?

Yes, but there are also nonoperative approaches that we offer.

Can someone with both carinatum and excavatum get a surgical repair?

This type of procedure can be more complex than a standard pectus excavatum repair. We recommend you find a very experienced pectus surgeon who has completed this surgery successfully in the past. Surgeons at the Nuss Center are often asked to work on complicated cases and to repair prior surgeries.

Frequently Asked Questions About Insurance

Does insurance cover the vacuum bell?

In recent history, some insurance carriers have paid for the device in full or in part as durable medical equipment.

How much will my insurance cover?

Insurance coverage for the therapies we offer can vary widely. We always recommend that the owner of the policy call and enquire about coverage directly. Some insurance companies request specific diagnosis codes or equipment codes in order to give an estimate of coverage. The Nuss Center staff and provide the codes as needed.

Will insurance cover treatment for pectus deformity?

Some pectus conditions are covered by health insurance. Some treatment modalities such as braces may also be covered. This will vary widely based on the insurance policy one owns.

Does insurance cover pectus excavatum surgery?

Insurance will cover repair of pectus excavatum as a medically necessary procedure. Some insurance companies are using evermore strict criteria to determine what they deem medically necessary. In some cases, they will demand additional testing.

Is it Pectus? Send a Photo

In most cases, chest wall deformities can be diagnosed with just a picture taken with your phone or any other device. If you prefer to send our team photos of your chest to review, please visit the link below and we'll contact you with more information.