How long can someone live with congenital funnel chest?

Jun 25, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health
Disease description:

When the child was born and underwent a physical examination, the doctor said the child had congenital funnel chest. How long can a person live with congenital funnel chest?

Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
The lifespan of patients with congenital pectus excavatum varies and cannot be generalized, as it is influenced by multiple factors. 1. Pectus excavatum itself does not directly affect the patient's life expectancy. According to statistics, the average lifespan of the general population is around 77.3 years, and the average lifespan of patients with pectus excavatum is similar. However, if the condition is severe and compresses the heart and lungs, causing symptoms such as difficulty breathing or cardiopulmonary insufficiency, it may have a certain impact on the patient's life expectancy. 2. Timely treatment and intervention are crucial for the life expectancy of patients with pectus excavatum. Mild cases can be managed through observation and conservative treatment, while severe cases require surgical intervention. After successful surgery, the patient's life expectancy is similar to that of the general population, and the procedure is considered relatively safe. 3. The patient's overall health status and presence of other comorbidities also influence life expectancy. If pectus excavatum is accompanied by other congenital diseases or complications, and timely treatment is not provided, the patient's life expectancy may be shorter than average.