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Why does my baby have a dip in his chest?
Pectus excavatum (PECK-tuss ex-kuh-VAW-tum) is a condition that causes a child’s chest to look sunken or “caved in.” It happens because of a defect in the tough connective tissue (cartilage) that holds the bony part of the ribs to the breastbone. The cartilage pushes the breastbone (sternum) inward.
Can babies grow out of pectus excavatum?
While most children with pectus excavatum don’t need any treatment at all, more severe cases can be surgically repaired so that your child can lead a normal, active life. In severe cases, repair of a pectus excavatum may help the function of the heart and lungs. But in most cases, the benefits are mostly psychological.
Do all babies have a sunken chest?
It’s also sometimes called sunken chest or funnel chest. The condition is quite common, occurring in 1 in every 300-400 children. We see patients of all ages with the condition, from newborns through teenagers, and sometimes even adults.
Does sunken chest go away?
The condition typically gets worse as kids grow, and affects boys more often than girls. When a child is done growing, the pectus should not get any better or worse.
What age can you treat pectus excavatum?
Background: The ideal time to operate on pectus excavatum (PE) using the Nuss procedure (NP) is between 12 and 18 years of age, because it is more difficult to bend the sternum of older patients and they have more pain and complications.
Is pectus excavatum caused by vitamin D deficiency?
Vitamin D deficiency in utero may also cause the baby to develop a funnel chest. Boys are more affected than girls. With this condition, the ribs and the breastbone grow in the inward direction. A small funnel-like depression or a slight indentation in the chest is present in a child with mild pectus excavatum.
How do I know if my baby has pectus excavatum?
Pectus excavatum can be diagnosed with the following exams: A physical evaluation, where a doctor will determine how severe the deformity is and if it affects your child’s lungs or heart. If necessary, the doctor may use imaging tests like an X-ray or CT scan to look inside your child’s chest.
Is pectus excavatum visible at birth?
Pectus excavatum may not be noticeable at birth. By the age of two or three years, however, it is apparent. It can get worse during childhood and puberty.
When should I be concerned about pectus excavatum?
When is pectus excavatum a problem? Treatment should be sought if you have physical symptoms such as breathing difficulties, or psychological symptoms that affect daily life.
Are you born with pectus excavatum?
Pectus excavatum is a relatively common congenital deformity (a defect that is present at birth) in which the chest appears sunken. The condition is sometimes called concave chest or funnel chest. The deformity can become more visible as your child grows up, especially during puberty.
Is a sunken chest a birth defect?
Pectus excavatum is a congenital chest wall deformity that is caused by growth abnormality of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the breastbone (sternum). This causes a depression of the sternum and the chest has a “sunken in” or “funnel chest” appearance. The condition affects more boys than girls.
Is pectus excavatum always congenital?
Pectus excavatum can be associated with other congenital abnormalities, including abnormalities of the diaphragm. In 2% of patients, pectus excavatum is associated with congenital cardiac anomalies. In patients with the characteristic body habitus, the diagnosis of Marfan syndrome should be considered.