15 Years of Vacuum Bell Therapy for Pectus Excavatum: Long-term Outcomes and Influencing Factors

Hendrik van Braak; Sjoerd A. de Beer; Youssef Al Ghouch; Sander Zwaveling; Matthijs W.N. Oomen; L.W. Ernest van Heurn; Justin R. de Jong

J Pediatr Surg. 2025 Feb;60(2):161891. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2024.161891. Epub 2024 Sep 1.

20 years clinical application of the vacuum bell for conservative treatment of pectus excavatum-past, present, future

Frank-Martin Haecker

J Thorac Dis. 2024 Aug 31;16(8):5285-5298. doi: 10.21037/jtd-23-408. Epub 2024 Aug 15.

Addition of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery to the Treatment of Flail Chest

Schots, Judith Pm; Vissers, Yvonne Lj; Hulsewé, Karel We; Meesters, Berend; Hustinx, Paul A; Pijnenburg, Annette; Siebenga, Jan; de Loos, Erik R.

Ann Thorac Surg . 2017 Mar;103(3):940-944. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2016.09.036. Epub 2016 Dec 7.

Bracing of Pectus Carinatum in Children: Current Practices

Omanik Pavol, Sesia Sergio Bruno, Kozlikova Katarina, Schmidtova Veronika, Funakova Miroslava, Haecker Frank-Martin

Children (Basel). 2024 Apr 15;11(4):470. doi: 10.3390/children11040470.

Buffalo chest after minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum for pectus excavatum: results of the Chest Wall International Group (CWIG) survey

Francesco Donati, Marcelo Martinez-Ferro, Manuel Lopez, Michele Torre

Journal of Thoracic Disease

Cardiac decompression and right ventricular function improvement after bar removal in patients with pectus excavatum

Ignacio M Raggio 1 2, Luzia Toselli 3, Maxroxia Valle 3, Daniela Sanjurjo 3, Juan Farina 4, Gaston A Rodriguez-Granillo 5, Gaston Bellia-Munzon 3, Marcelo Martinez-Ferro 3

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2024 Nov;40(11):2383-2390. doi: 10.1007/s10554-024-03243-3. Epub 2024 Sep 23.

Complications and trends in minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum: A large volume, single institution experience

Michele Torre, Vittorio Guerriero, Michela Cing Yu Wong, Federico Palo, Federica Lena, Girolamo Mattioli

Journal of Pediatric Surgery

Correspondence on Should the Ravitch Procedure to Correct Pectus Excavatum Be Avoided in Young Children?

Miguel Lia Tedde, M.D., Ph.D.; Sjoerd A. de Beer, M.D., Ph.D.

J Chest Surg. 2022 Jun 5;55(3):252-254. doi: 10.5090/jcs.22.026.

Current Development of Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum (MIRPE)

Haecker Frank-Martin ; Krebs Thomas Franz ; Kleitsch Kai-Uwe

Children

Defining the optimal annual institutional case volume for minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum through a systematic review of literature and meta-analysis of outcomes

Daemen, Jean Ht; Cortenraad, Inez; Kawczynski, Michael J; van Roozendaal, Lori M; Hulsewé, Karel We; Vissers, Yvonne Lj; Heuts, Samuel; de Loos, Erik R.

J Thorac Dis. 2024 Sep 30;16(9):6081-6093. doi: 10.21037/jtd-24-690. Epub 2024 Sep 26.

Development and validation of the Pectus Carinatum Body Image Quality of Life (PeCBI-QOL) questionnaire

James F Paulson 1, Kelsey Ellis 2, Robert J Obermeyer 3, M Ann Kuhn 3, Frazier W Frantz 3, Margaret M McGuire 3, Erika Ortiz 4, Robert E Kelly Jr 5

J Pediatr Surg. 2019 Nov;54(11):2257-2260. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2019.03.019. Epub 2019 Apr 24.

Development of Prediction Models for Cardiac Compression in Pectus Excavatum Based on Three-Dimensional Surface Images

Jean H T Daemen 1, Samuel Heuts 2, Ashkan Rezazadah Ardabili 3, Jos G Maessen 4, Karel W E Hulsewé 5, Yvonne L J Vissers 5, Erik R de Loos 6

Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2023 Spring;35(1):202-212. doi: 10.1053/j.semtcvs.2021.11.006. Epub 2021 Nov 13.

Development of Prediction Models for Cardiac Compression in Pectus Excavatum Based on Three-Dimensional Surface Images.

Daemen, Jean Ht; Heuts, Samuel; Rezazadah Ardabili, Ashkan; Maessen, Jos G; Hulsewé, Karel We; Vissers, Yvonne Lj; de Loos, Erik R.

Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2023 Spring;35(1):202-212. doi: 10.1053/j.semtcvs.2021.11.006. Epub 2021 Nov 13.

Diastolic and Systolic Cardiac Dysfunction in Pectus Excavatum: Relationship to Exercise and Malformation Severity

Ignacio M Raggio 1, Marcelo Martínez-Ferro 1, Gastón Bellía-Munzón 1, Carlos Capunay 1, Martín Munín 1, Luzía Toselli 1, Patricia Carrascosa 1, Gastón A Rodríguez-Granillo 1

Radiol Cardiothorac Imaging. 2020 Oct 15;2(5):e200011. doi: 10.1148/ryct.2020200011. eCollection 2020 Oct.

Differences in chest wall between Dutch adolescents with pectus carinatum and the general pediatric population: A three-dimensional scanning analysis

Eelke Houter; Hendrik van Braak; Sjoerd A. de Bee; Sander Zwaveling; Matthijs W.N. Oomen; L.W. Ernest van Heurn; Justin R. de Jong

J Pediatr Surg. 2026 Jan;61(1):162784. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2025.162784. Epub 2025 Nov 1.

Eight Years of Expertise With the Sandwich Technique for Asymmetric Pectus Carinatum and Excavatum-Carinatum Complex

Garcia-Martinez, Laura; Lain, Ana; Sanjurjo, Daniela; Toselli, Luzia; Elmo, Gaston; Lopez-Paredes, Manuel; Bellia-Munzon, Gaston; Martinez-Ferro, Marcelo

J Pediatr Surg. 2025 Dec;60(12):162568. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2025.162568. Epub 2025 Aug 14.

Evaluating Inter- and Intraobserver Agreement on Pectus Carinatum Severity and Treatment Outcomes: A Comparison of Subjective and Objective Assessment Methods

Hendrik van Braak; Sjoerd A. de Beer; Sander Zwaveling; Matthijs W. N. Oomen; L. W. Ernest van Heurn; Justin R. de Jong

Eur J Pediatr Surg. 2025 Jun;35(3):232-239. doi: 10.1055/a-2466-6407. Epub 2024 Nov 13.

Evaluating the cumulative complication risk of the surgical treatment trajectory of pectus excavatum by the Nuss Procedure: A single-center analysis

Franssen, Chiel J; Daemen, Jean Ht; van Roozendaal, Lori M; van Polen, Elise J; Michels, Iris L; Franssen, Aimée Jpm; Hulsewé, Karel We; Vissers, Yvonne Lj; de Loos, Erik R

J Pediatr Surg. 2026 Feb;61(2):162809. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2025.162809. Epub 2025 Nov 12.

Evolution in the management of pectus excavatum in pediatric patients

Haecker, Frank-Martin

Translat Pediatr

Genetic Associations with Pectus Excavatum: A Systematic Review

Ranjan Redoy; Imtiaz Nafiz; Waterhouse Benjamin; Paul Ian; Brunswicker Annemarie; Dunning Joel

Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2026 Jan 22;48(1):122. doi: 10.3390/cimb48010122.

Impact of vacuum bell on thoracic shape and cardiac function in pectus excavatum

J. van Schuppen; S.A. de Beer; A.E. van der Hulst; R.N. Planken

J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr. 2018 Sep-Oct;12(5):e17-e19. doi: 10.1016/j.jcct.2018.07.002. Epub 2018 Jul 7.

Improving Quality of Life With Dynamic Compression Bracing in Patients With Pectus Carinatum

Hendrik van Braak; Sjoerd A. de Beer; Jos W.R. Twisk; Sander Zwaveling; Matthijs W.N. Oomen; Justin R. de Jong; L.W. Ernest van Heurn

J Pediatr Surg. 2025 Jan;60(1):161975. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2024.161975. Epub 2024 Sep 30.

Intercostal Nerve Cryoablation or Epidural Analgesia for Multimodal Pain Management after the Nuss Procedure: A Cohort Study

Hendrik van Braak; Sjoerd A. de Beer; Justin R. de Jong; Markus F. Stevens; Gijsbert Musters; Sander Zwaveling; Matthijs W.

Eur J Pediatr Surg. 2024 Dec;34(6):488-492. doi: 10.1055/a-2249-7588. Epub 2024 Jan 19.

Intercostal Nerve Cryoanalgesia in Pectus Excavatum Repair—A Narrative Review

MARGUŁA Robert Rudolf; SZOSTAWICKI Michał; FIGIEL Aniela; ZABOREK Paweł; BERNAD Mateusz; WIDOMSKA Katarzyna; PESTKA Justyna

Quality in Sports

Interventions with Music in PECTus excavatum treatment (IMPECT trial): a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial investigating the clinical effects of perioperative music interventions

Ryan J. Billar; Y. Rosalie Kühlmann; J. Marco Schnater; John Vlot; Jeremy J. P. Tomas; Gerda W. Zijp; Mandana Rad; Sjoerd A. de Beer; Markus F. Stevens; Marten J. P. Poley; Joost van Rosmalen; Johannes F. Jeekel; René M. H. Wijnen

BMJ Open. 2020 Jul 8;10(7):e036380. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036380.

Intraoperative Use of the Vacuum Bell for Elevating the Sternum during the Nuss Procedure

Haecker, Frank-Martin; Sesia, Sergio

J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 2012 Nov;22(9):934-6. doi: 10.1089/lap.2012.0030.

Intraoperative intercostal nerve cryoanalgesia during the Ravitch procedure for Currarino–Silverman chest wall deformity

Michał Szostawicki; Robert Marguła; Justyna Pestka

Polish Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

Lessons Learned after 176 Patients Treated with a Standardized Procedure of Thoracoscopic Cryoanalgesia during Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum

Luzia Toselli 1, Cecilia Gigena 2, Gaston Bellia-Munzon 2, Daniela Sanjurjo 2, Maxroxia Vallee 3, Marcelo Martinez-Ferro 2

J Pediatr Surg. 2024 Mar;59(3):372-378. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2023.10.047. Epub 2023 Oct 21.

Low interobserver agreement among expert surgeons using a common morphological classification for pectus excavatum

Rodriguez-Ortiz, Donaji; Toselli, Luzia; Bellia-Munzon, Gaston; Sanjurjo, Daniela; Elmo, Gaston; Vallee, Maxroxia; Martinez-Ferro, Marcelo

J Pediatr Surg. 2026 Mar;61(3):162872. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2025.162872. Epub 2025 Dec 12.

Measured dynamic compression for pectus carinatum: A systematic review

Sjoerd A. de Beer; Yael E. Blom; Manuel Lopez; Justin R. de Jong

Semin Pediatr Surg. 2018 Jun;27(3):175-182. doi: 10.1053/j.sempedsurg.2018.06.001. Epub 2018 Jun 15.

Minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum by the Nuss procedure: The learning curve

de Loos, Erik R; Daemen, Jean Ht; Pennings, Alexander J; Heuts, Samuel; Maessen, Jos G; Hulsewé, Karel We; Vissers, Yvonne Lj.

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2022 Mar;163(3):828-837.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2020.11.154. Epub 2020 Dec 10.

Neither Carinatum nor Excavatum: Insights Regarding the Novel Postprematurity Thoracic Dysplasia and Traditional Harrison Grooves

Toselli, Luzia; Rollan, Lara; Torre, Michele; Vallee, Maxroxia; Sanjuro, Daniela; Bellia-Munzon, Gaston; Martinez-Ferro, Marcelo

J Pediatr Surg. 2025 Jan;60(1):161971. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2024.161971. Epub 2024 Sep 26.

Non-inferiority of 1-minute versus 2-minutes cryoanalgesia cycles during minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum: A propensity score-matched analysis

Donati, Francesco; Toselli, Luzia; Bellia-Munzon, Gaston; Giacosa, Facundo; Sanjurjo, Daniela; Martinez-Ferro, Marcelo

J Pediatr Surg. 2026 Mar;61(3):162905. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2025.162905. Epub 2025 Dec 26.

Non-surgical treatment of pectus excavatum

Haecker, Frank-Martin; Sesia, Sergio

J Vis Surg. 2016 Mar 23:2:63. doi: 10.21037/jovs.2016.03.14. eCollection 2016.

Nuss Procedure for Pectus Excavatum: A Comparison of Complications Between Young and Adult Patients

de Loos, Erik R; Pennings, Alexander J; van Roozendaal, Lori M; Daemen, Jean Ht; van Gool, Matthijs H; Lenderink, Timo; van Horck, Marieke; Hulsewé, Karel We; Vissers, Yvonne Lj.

Ann Thorac Surg . 2021 Sep;112(3):905-911. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2020.10.017. Epub 2020 Nov 9.

Optimizing the Nuss Technique: Modified Approaches to Pediatric Pectus Excavatum

Michał Szostawicki; Małgorzata Kowalska; Michał Puliński; Tomasz Janowicz; Łukasz Matus; Adam Hermanowicz

Polish Journal of Surgery

Pectus Bar Dislocation: Comparison Between Three Different Stabilization Techniques Adopted in a Single Centre

Francesco Donati 1, Maria Stella Cipriani 2, Angela Pistorio 3, Vittorio Guerriero 2, Girolamo Mattioli 4, Michele Torre 4

J Pediatr Surg. 2024 Oct;59(10):161591. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2024.05.021. Epub 2024 Jun 4.

Pectus Bar Dislocation: Comparison Between Three Different Stabilization Techniques Adopted in a Single Centre

Francesco Donati, Maria Stella Cipriani, Angela Pistorio, Vittorio Guerriero

Journal of Pediatric Surgery

Pectus Excavatum: Consensus and Controversies in Clinical Practice

Janssen, Nicky; Daemen, Jean Ht; van Polen, Elise J; Coorens, Nadine A; Jansen, Yanina Jl; Franssen, Aimée Jpm; Hulsewé, Karel We; Vissers, Yvonne Lj; Haecker, Frank-Martin; Milanez de Campos, Jose R; de Loos, Erik R.

Ann Thorac Surg. 2023 Jul;116(1):191-199. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2023.02.059. Epub 2023 Mar 29.

Pectus bar Removal – why, when, where and how

Haecker Frank-Martin; Hebra Andre; Martinez-Ferro Marcelo

J Pediatr Surg

Pectus excavatum and carinatum: a narrative review of epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, clinical features, and classification

Janssen, Nicky; Coorens, Nadine A; Franssen, Aimée Jpm; Daemen, Jean Ht; Michels, Iris L; Hulsewé, Karel We; Vissers, Yvonne Lj; de Loos, Erik R.

J Thorac Dis . 2024 Feb 29;16(2):1687-1701. doi: 10.21037/jtd-23-957. Epub 2024 Jan 22.

Proposal of the TBN Classification of Thoracic Anomalies and Treatment Algorithm for Poland Syndrome

Maria Victoria Romanini, Michele Torre, Pierluigi Santi, Laura Dova, Maura Valle, Carlo Martinoli, Iaria Baldelli

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Proposing the Retrosternal Angle as a Diagnostic Measure for Banana Sternum in Pectus Excavatum

Sanjurjo, Daniela; Toselli, Luzia; Gigena, Cecilia; Bellia-Munzon, Gaston; Elmo, Gaston; Giacosa, Facundo; Vallee, Maxroxia; Martinez-Ferro, Marcelo

J Pediatr Surg. 2024 Dec;59(12):161667. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2024.08.007. Epub 2024 Aug 6.

Ravitch Surgery or Dynamic Compression Bracing for Pectus Carinatum: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Hendrik van Braak; Sjoerd A. de Beer; Sander Zwaveling; Matthijs W. N. Oomen; Justin R. de Jong

Ann Thorac Surg. 2024 Jan;117(1):144-150. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2022.10.041. Epub 2022 Nov 14.

Sternal elevation in pectus excavatum repair: comparison of a unilateral versus bilateral frame crane system

Janssen, Nicky; Coorens, Nadine A.; Daemen, Jean H T; Franssen, Aimée J P M; van Polen, Elise J; van der Hoven, Pelle A.; Hulsewé, Karel W E; Vissers, Yvonne L J; de Loos, Erik R

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2024 Nov 4;66(5):ezae395. doi: 10.1093/ejcts/ezae395.

Sternocostal instability after Ravitch repair in adolescents: 3 case-reports and a review of surgical techniques in the literature

Sjoerd A. de Beer 1, Ernst L.W. van Heurn 1

Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2020 Mar 25;8(3):e2720. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000002720. eCollection 2020 Mar.

Surgery versus conservative management for severe pectus excavatum (RESTORE): protocol for a multicentre, randomised, controlled superiority trial

Maier, Rebecca; Dunning, Joel; Wason, James; Chadwick, Thomas; Bryant, Andrew; Fernandez-Garcia, Cristina; Vale, Luke; Danjoux, Gerard; Wallace, Gillian; Levett-Renton, Alistair; Naidu, Babu; Pryor, Claire; McCulloch, Peter; Thursfield, Rebecca; Wyllie, Jonathan; Chang, Lisa; Marsay, Leanne; Akowuah, Enoch.

BMJ Open. 2025 Dec 24;15(12):e113818. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-113818.

The Automatic Quantification of Morphological Features of Pectus Excavatum Based on Three-Dimensional Images

Coorens, Nadine A; Daemen, Jean Ht; Slump, Cornelis H; Loonen, Tom Gj; Vissers, Yvonne Lj; Hulsewé, Karel We; de Loos, Erik R.

Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2022 Summer;34(2):772-781. doi: 10.1053/j.semtcvs.2021.05.018. Epub 2021 Jun 5.

The Dynamic Compression Brace for Pectus Carinatum: Intermediate Results in 286 Patients

Sjoerd A. de Beer; Martin Gritter; Justin R. de Jong 2; Ernst L.W. van Heurn

Ann Thorac Surg. 2017 Jun;103(6):1742-1749. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2016.12.019. Epub 2017 Mar 6.

The pectus care guidelines: best practice consensus guidelines from the joint specialist societies SCTS/MF/CWIG/BOA/BAPS for the treatment of patients with pectus abnormalities

Dunning, Joel; Burdett, Clare; Child, Anne; Davies, Carl; Eastwood, Deborah; Goodacre, Tim; Haecker, Frank-Martin; Kendall, Simon; Kolvekar, Shyam; MacMahon, Lisa; Marven, Sean; Murray, Sarah; Naidu, Babu; Pandya, Bejal; Redmond, Karen; Coonar, Karen

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2024 Jul 1;66(1):ezae166. doi: 10.1093/ejcts/ezae166.

Time Heals: The Impact of Waiting Times on Pediatric Patients' Decisions to Decline Pectus Surgery

Hendrik van Braak; Sjoerd A. de Beer; Matthijs W.N. Oomen; Sander Zwaveling; Joep P.M. Derikx; L.W. Ernest van Heurn; Justin R. de Jong

J Pediatr Surg. 2025 Nov;60(11):162504. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2025.162504. Epub 2025 Aug 6.

To cross or not to cross: the cross-bar technique to correct pectus excavatum with “costal flar-ing”

Haecker Frank-Martin ; Krebs Thomas Franz ; Kleitsch Kai-Uwe

Ann Thorac Surg Short Reports

Use of cryoanalgesia in the treatment of pectus excavatum in children by the Nuss method—a single-center retrospective study

Michał Szostawicki; Michał Tomasz Puliński; Tomasz Janowicz; Robert Marguła; Filip Krupienicz; Paulina Gisman; Michał Matecki; Katarzyna Anna Szymak; Aleksandra Wochna

Polish Annals of Medicine