Outcomes, quality of life, and long-term results after pectus repair from around the globe.

The procedure introduced by Donald Nuss in 1997 at the American Pediatric Surgical Association meeting has now been adopted by pediatric, thoracic, and plastic surgeons around the globe. Since its introduction, the Nuss procedure has been the subject of intense scrutiny. More than 20 years since the original publication, medical centers from around the world have reported their experience with the procedure and robust evidence now supports its safety and efficacy. Additionally, in collaboration with psychologists in Norfolk, a methodology was devised to measure the psychosocial as well as the physical benefits of the procedure. Extensive independent multinational and multi-institutional data demonstrate repair of pectus excavatum using the Nuss procedure results in marked improvement in both physical function and body image. This report reviews the outcomes, quality of life, and long-term results of numerous centers worldwide since the introduction of the procedure.