[Sternal turnover with preservation of internal mammary vessels in the treatment of pectus excavatum].

This article reports the experience of using a modified sternal turnover technique in 4 patients with pectus excavatum in which one or both internal mammary vascular pedicles were preserved to assure viability of the sternum and costal cartilages in the everted position. At operation special care was taken in dissecting the mammary vessels which were freed en bloc with the protecting fatty tissue. The internal mammary vessels were carefully dissected upward and downward each for 5 cm and the funnel shaped sternum was turned over for 180 degrees with care being exercised not to injure the blood vessels. We recommend this technique the first choice for the repair of pectus excavatum.