My patient just had a successful groundbreaking surgery..

Chari910 · Post by **Chari910** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 11:53 am

..for his Pectus Carinatum (Pigeon Chest) at the Children Hospital at King Daughters Hopital, Eastern VA Med School in Norfolk, VA.

He is the third case in the nation. I just saw him today for follow up. Very successful with remarkable result!

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Before this, children who had Funnel Chest or Pigeon Chest had to undergo a very invasive surgery for correction. THey had to break the sternum, remove some ribs and the scars look like they had open-heart surgery. THis new precedure is called 'Nuss' Procedure, after Dr. Nuss.
It's world revolutional and I'm very proud to have this originated in Virginia.

marilaine · Post by **marilaine** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 2:28 pm

WOW! Chari, that's fantastic news......CONGRATULATIONS!

~M'L(C)

kjshd05 · Post by **kjshd05** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 2:31 pm

Char, this is fantastic news....how surgical technology keeps advancing,
is miraculous...I am so glad your patient had the procedure and is
doing well...thanx for posting this....

Marie · Post by **Marie** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 2:49 pm

That is great Char!!! It must be wonderful to know this child has a bright future now. It's truley amazing how far surgery has advanced (I am always thankful for that!) To have this kind of surgery - your patient was fortunate (he is also lucky to have you as a Doctor!!)

Chari910 · Post by **Chari910** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 3:33 pm

Thanks Marie. The family used to live in my area and they moved to DC area for 7 years and they still drive 2 hrs to bring the kids to see me.

They had to drive even further when I referred him to Norflok, but that's the only place with this new surgery. I'm glad it turns out so well.

Post by **Hilary the Touched** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 3:56 pm

Wow--so much to keep up with.
I guess I'd thought of pediatrics as a relatively uneventful kind of specialty--but of course that's the time in a patient's life when a lot of this sort of thing appears and is best addressed.
That was a really interesting video. Curious that the corrective bar has to remain so long--but also interesting that it can, in the end, be removed. What's the longest one of these patients (with either pectus carinatum or pectus excavatum) has been followed after this procedure?

Chari910 · Post by **Chari910** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 5:13 pm

They have been doing the Excavatus for a few years and my patient is the third case of Carinatum in a few weeks span.

THe bar has to be in until the body stop growing.

Angel Tavington · Post by **Angel Tavington** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 5:24 pm

It's really amazing how technology keeps improving and advancing- it can make a difference in others' lives.

I'm glad to hear that your patient had a successful surgery!

~me

Post by **Gillian** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 6:29 pm

This is fascinating stuff, Char. The new procedure looks a godsend. I can only imagine the pain and lengthy recovery period doing it the old way.

How long before this becomes standard practice in hospitals?

Chari910 · Post by **Chari910** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 7:37 pm

It will be a while. Each pediatric surgeon will have to travel to Norfolk and learn the procedure first hand. Even at Medical College of Virginia in Richmond which is closer to me, no one knows how to do it yet.

catloveyes · Post by **catloveyes** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 11:05 pm

This is unbelievable Char...and I agree in that he is very lucky to have you as his Doctor and that such surgery can be performed today....he will indeed have a bright future ahead of him.

Wonderful Char....just remarkable!!

Hugs,
Kate

grannybear · Post by **grannybear** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 8:00 am

What wonderful news to hear on Thanksgiving. Keep us informed as to his progress. He'll be in my thank-you prayers today.

Helen8 · Post by **Helen8** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 3:01 pm

gb, I was thinking the same thing. Thanksgiving indeed!

Thanks, Char, for telling us about it. Do keep us informed about your patient's progress.

At first, I was a little squeamish about watching the piece, but I did and was glad.

Was it just me, or did the boy look like Daniel Radcliffe?

Cissa · Post by **Cissa** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 11:14 am

Holy mackerel

I can't even clip my dogs nails without making them bleed. Nice work Chari!!!

Sarah · Post by **Sarah** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 8:39 pm

Whoa. Thats cool.