Mechanical occlusion of the inferior vena cava: an unusual complication after repair of pectus excavatum using the nuss procedure.

We describe the case of a 13-year-old girl with a pectus excavatum in whom acute occlusion of the inferior vena cava developed after a nuss repair. In this hemodynamically unstable patient, we evaluated the possibility of a penetrating injury to the thoracic and abdominal structures before confirming the diagnosis of inferior vena cava obstruction with a venogram. Removal of the nuss bar relieved the unexpected problem.