Correction of the pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum with minimum skin incisions

Six patients of pectus excavatum and two patients of pectus carinatum were corrected by costal cartilage resection with sternal osteotomy through a small skin incision (about 3 to 4 cm) located just above the rip hold process assisted by the endoscope. Additional stub wounds of less than 3 mm in diameter were also made for the insertion of the surgical instruments in some cases. Endoscope was mainly used in comparatively wide range subcutaneous dissection beyond the affected area and pleural dissection. The wide range subcutaneous dissection enhanced the mobility of the skin incision site, and most of subperichondral dissection of costal cartilage could be done under direct visualization. Endoscopic subperichondral dissection and costal cartilage resection was performed in some cases. Surgical procedures and the results were reported.