What are the harms of pectus excavatum?
Feb 16, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Qifeng
Introduction
If a patient's pectus excavatum is not severe, there may be no significant adverse effects. However, if the condition is severe, it may impair cardiopulmonary function, leading to symptoms such as palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue. If a patient has severe pectus excavatum and does not receive timely and appropriate treatment, serious complications such as pleural effusion, pneumonia, cardiac injury, and pneumothorax may develop.
Funnel chest can lead to various harms, including discomfort symptoms, complications, and psychological burden.
1. Discomfort Symptoms
If a patient's funnel chest is mild, there may be no significant harm. However, in severe cases, it may affect cardiopulmonary function, leading to symptoms such as palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath, and general fatigue.
2. Complications
If a patient has severe funnel chest and does not receive active treatment, obvious complications may develop, including pleural effusion, pneumonia, cardiac injury, pneumothorax, and acquired scoliosis.
3. Psychological Burden
Patients may develop noticeable physical deformities such as scoliosis, forward inclination of the neck and shoulders, protrusion of the lower ribs and upper abdomen, and kyphosis. These visible body changes can impose a significant psychological burden on the patient.
Once typical symptoms of funnel chest are detected, patients should promptly visit a hospital for examination to identify the cause. After a definitive diagnosis of funnel chest is made, standardized treatment measures should be implemented to prevent adverse effects on physical health.
