A 5-year experience with a minimally invasive technique for pectus carinatum repair.

Purpose: This report describes a 5-year experience with a novel, minimally invasive surgical technique for treatment of pectus carinatum.

Methods: From June 2002 to August 2007, 40 patients underwent operation to correct pectus carinatum by pressure applied through a curved steel bar that was placed subcutaneously anterior to the sternum, via lateral thoracic incisions. The bar is inserted through a polyvinyl chloride tube with the convexity facing posteriorly.