Congenital birth defect to be studied as to impact on heart and lungs

Friday, October 19, 2007

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Pectus, a congenital chest deformity resulting in either a protruding or concave chest, is not only cosmetically unappealing, but can potentially have serious physical limitations affecting the heart and lungs.

Mayo Clinic is currently investigating whether surgery to correct pectus can impact the heart and lung functions caused by pectus excavatum (a concave chest) or pectus carinatum (a protruding chest), two very common congenital birth defects affecting one in 400 children. In some cases, the deformities can cause physical limitations, chest discomfort and breathing problems.

Pectus excavatum (PE), in which the breastbone is depressed, creates a diminished space in the chest cavity for lungs to expand, making it difficult to breathe. Pectus carinatum (PC) is characterized by a protruding breastbone, which makes it difficult to completely exhale air in the lungs, causing short, rapid breathing and reduced exercise endurance. Surgery to correct either form of this deformity can be safely performed with few complications and a short hospital stay.

Despite numerous published reports in small groups of patients, there is no consensus on what degree of physiological abnormality, if any, exists with pectus deformity. Also, convincing evidence of physiological improvement following surgical repair of the condition is lacking. Many patients, however, report improvement in exercise tolerance, reduction in chest discomfort and less palpitations following surgical repair.

As part of the study, patients will undergo a cardiopulmonary stress test before surgical correction. This test will define any cardiopulmonary abnormalities present before surgery. The study will also include a multi-purpose health survey that will provide a profile of functional health and well-being scores, plus physical and mental scores.

Improvements in respiratory mechanics, cardiac function and exercise performance will be identified by repeating the measurements six months following corrective surgery.

About Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic is the first and largest integrated, not-for-profit group practice in the world. As a leading academic medical center in the Southwest, Mayo Clinic focuses on providing specialty and surgical care in more than 65 disciplines at its outpatient facility in north Scottsdale and at Mayo Clinic Hospital. The 208-licensed bed hospital is located at 56th Street and Mayo Boulevard (north of Bell Road) in northeast Phoenix, and provides inpatient care to support the medical and surgical specialties of the clinic, which is located at 134th Street and Shea Boulevard in Scottsdale.

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About Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic is the first and largest integrated, not-for-profit group practice in the world. Doctors from every medical specialty work together to care for patients, joined by common systems and a philosophy of "the needs of the patient come first." More than 3,700 physicians, scientists and researchers and 50,100 allied health staff work at Mayo Clinic, which has sites in Rochester, Minn; Jacksonville, Fla; and Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz. and community based providers in more than 70 locations in Southern Minn., Western Wis. and Northeast Iowa. These locations treat more than half a million people each year. To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. For information about research and education, visit www.mayo.edu. MayoClinic.com is available as a resource for your health stories.