Pectus bar removal after minimal invasive repair of pectus excavatum: advantages of bar stabilizer anvil tool.

PURPOSE: Dislocation of pectus bars after minimal invasive repair of pectus excavatum has been reduced by use of bar stabilizers. However, during bar removal, intense bone formation around the pectus bar and bar stabilizer makes it difficult to detach them from one another. A tool was designed to facilitate the detachment of the bar stabilizer from the pectus bar.

DESCRIPTION: The Bar Stabilizer Anvil (Walter Lorenz Surgical Inc, Jacksonville, FL) is a stainless steel tool placed directly on the bar stabilizer during surgery. Using a simple tapping action with a hammer on the tool, the bar stabilizer slides and detaches from the pectus bar.

EVALUATION: The first developed prototype was used in 5 patients during bar removal, but had to be redesigned with slight modifications. The second redesigned prototype of the bar stabilizer tool could be optimally inserted at the surgical site and enabled the detachments of the bar stabilizer with ease when employed in the second series of 5 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The Bar Stabilizer Anvil is a useful tool for the detachment of the stabilizer plate from the pectus bar after minimal invasive repair of pectus excavatum.