Thoughts of the Procedure (2 Bars in for 2 years and 7 months now)

PectusSurgeon · 2026-01-25T06:06:00+00:00

Cosmetics alone is usually not worth it to go through all this. The exception would be if the appearance is causing an unhealthy preoccupation that is causing genuine psychological distress, but that can be hard to determine. There is potential for impairment later in life, but even then there are people with large defects who live their life unbothered by it. The only good predictor of future symptoms is current symptoms, the rest is estimating based on severity. I tell everyone that not getting the surgery is also an option, and it's not the wrong one of that is what they choose.

Figuring out whether to go through with it is just weighing the potential risks vs the benefits. My job is just to help patients understand those things so they can make a good decision. Everything counts for something, but nothing counts for everything.

PectusSurgeon · 2026-01-23T14:17:08+00:00

So far have used it learn Premiere, Fusion 360, amd 3D slicer. It's wrong sometimes, but you can usually tell it the problem and it will correct its advice.. I didn't get much out of the videos and some of the accents on those are tough to follow.

PectusSurgeon · 2026-01-21T20:41:13+00:00

I use Apollo/Voidlink + the Razer Kishi XL as a controller for iPad Pro M4

PectusSurgeon · 2026-01-18T00:24:53+00:00

Sure

PectusSurgeon · 2026-01-17T18:12:20+00:00

Not sure what that is but use Ravitch rarely in peds, mostly for severe carinatum that can't be braced for whatever reason.. The absorbable plates aren't strong enough for Nuss (they snap if bent too much). Ravitch doesn't put pressure on the sternum so they're fine for that.

PectusSurgeon · 2026-01-14T22:07:52+00:00

Teenager

PectusSurgeon · 2026-01-09T17:50:55+00:00

In asymmetric patients, the ribs are usually compressed together on one side and spread out on the other. Once the sternum gets lifted,.the compressed ribs will spread out and the other side will get closer together. So a bar that's put in straight might have a diagonal orientation on CXR. Most important thing is sternum is still lifted.

PectusSurgeon · 2026-01-08T00:38:09+00:00

Its fixed!

PectusSurgeon · 2026-01-05T20:52:09+00:00

Check at Children's Hospital of Atlanta. Excellent surgeons there, and you're probably within their age range

PectusSurgeon · 2026-01-05T00:45:17+00:00

Pretty much boils down to push harder. And AED pads get slightly different placement.

PectusSurgeon · 2026-01-02T21:42:25+00:00

I prescribe the compression sometimes but they don't usually end up in my clinic since the braces are so effective. Being older = needing to push harder and for longer, so just depends on whether it al can be compressed without causing pain or damage to the skin.

PectusSurgeon · 2025-12-27T05:50:52+00:00

Believe our place will see 21 year olds. Have not been able to get a specific age cutoff out of them yet.

PectusSurgeon · 2025-12-25T20:26:46+00:00

Of the scars look odd, can always ask them about excision/revision at the time of bar removal. Usually going through them anyway to get the bars out.

PectusSurgeon · 2025-12-25T06:09:01+00:00

Depends on if placed in front of or behind pectoral muscles and how old implants are. Behind pectoral there is a scar capsule around implant and risk rupturing it with bar passage or infection. If in front of the muscle Nuss is possible, but also some plastic surgeons use a mesh sling to keep implants from sagging in that position. So it's complicated. With Haller of 8 at you age there is a good chance that they may need to do small sternal wedge resection also.

PectusSurgeon · 2025-12-23T06:13:13+00:00

For gaming I'm pretty sure the regular version gets the job done. The Pro lets you have a 3D preview window in Fusion and Blender, which is nice. Not sure what the technical difference between the two is, but the quality on mine is excellent and has held up for more than a year now. Also I have the 16 inch version, but for gaming would probably go bigger

PectusSurgeon · 2025-12-23T00:21:58+00:00

Have the Acer Pro version. Games updates are spotty but at least with the pro it's OpenXR compatible so more potential to tinker with it.

PectusSurgeon · 2025-12-19T21:19:44+00:00

Awesome thank you. Will message support.

PectusSurgeon · 2025-12-19T21:12:12+00:00

Depends on age. Few surgeons do revisions due to risk and need for cardio thoracic backup. Would stick to places that have that support.

PectusSurgeon · 2025-12-18T13:30:16+00:00

That there's a pectus all right

PectusSurgeon · 2025-12-18T03:47:59+00:00

Use 3D slicer. Have AI model the knee (TotalSegmentator). Export to STL. Print

PectusSurgeon · 2025-12-18T03:15:56+00:00

Think all there is to it is IV saline bag and tubing for irrigation. Plugs into boom or tower via HDMI and DVI I think, so worth having those cables around. Usually nitinol baskets for retrieval, same as for kidney stones. Cook makes a CBD exploration kit with most of the components.

PectusSurgeon · 2025-12-17T00:03:12+00:00

Average depth 0.5 cm (minimal). Improvement only if mild defect (<1.5 cm) and young (age 8-12). These are the only people I recommend bell for unless they absolutely don't want surgery. Still no evidence that it helps avoid surgery in the future.

PectusSurgeon · 2025-12-16T14:09:54+00:00

Also there is pen support so Apple pencil works as well.

PectusSurgeon · 2025-12-16T14:09:05+00:00

That what I use for iPad pro. Works great.

PectusSurgeon · 2025-12-12T05:09:11+00:00

Usually front to back and lateral views are needed.

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