Funnel chest, with its considerable sternal depression and obvious interference with the topography of the heart, has for some time been made the subject of the attractive paradox that, in the vast majority of cases, it has no effect on cardiac function. True, it is conceded that the deformity may in rare instances be responsible for decompensation severe enough to cause congestive failure but ...

Congenital chest wall or pectus deformities including pectus excavatum (funnel chest) and pectus carinatum (pigeon chest) affect a significant proportion of the general population and up to 70% of patients with Marfan syndrome. Patients often experience significant morbidity and psychological distress, which can worsen with age. Here we discuss new techniques for both operative and non-operativ...