Factors determining the complications in Nuss procedure

Background: This study aims to share our experiences in complications developing in patients who underwent Nuss procedure and the management of these complications. Methods: In the study, files of 59 patients (50 males, 9 females; mean age 17.6 +/- 5.1 years; range, 2.5 to 33 years) who were applied Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum in our clinic between July 2007 and May 2016 were retrospectively assessed. Patients' age, gender, surgical method-complications and hospitalization durations were recorded. Fisher's chisquare test and logistic regression analysis were used for data evaluation. Results: Nuss procedure was performed in all patients without severe complications such as death, organ injury or massive hemorrhage. The most frequently observed postoperative earlyperiod complication was minimal pneumothorax (n=16, 27.1%), while bar dislocation was most frequently observed in the lateperiod (n=5, 8.3%). Conclusion: Being male and/or over 23 years of age were determined as risk factors for complication development after Nuss procedure. Still, being a minimally invasive and manageable approach with its success in correcting the deformity, short operation duration, and low complication rates, Nuss procedure can be safely performed in selected patients.