FUNNEL CHEST

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Abstract
Funnel chest as seen in childhood seldom produces disability. A review of the literature reveals a growing number of cases of funnel chest in adult patients in whom varying degrees of cardiac disability have been described. In a questionnaire answered by 25 American physicians, the majority feel that among adult patients with severe funnel chest there are some who suffer from cardiac or respiratory disability. There was a feeling that many of these patients undergo psychologic trauma. Twenty-three of the 25 feel that operative correction of a severe degree of funnel chest should be undertaken in childhood. A series of eight cases operated upon by the author is reviewed. Of these cases the outcome has been the most successful in children operated upon by radical surgery between 2 and 6 years of age. The author believes that, for children with a severe grade of funnel chest, surgery should be recommended when they are between 2 and 6 years of age.

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