What type of specialist do i need to meet with in order to repair a pectus excavatum (sunken chest)?

Cardiac surgeon: There are several specialites that can help. Assuming the patient is a child (surgery is often done age 12-16), a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon is the most common specialty for this. For adults i would also check with the local cardiothoracic surgeon, and they can direct you to who locally does this treatment the most, as there may be a role for a plastic surgeon as well.

Pediatric surgeon: A specialist in pediatric surgery, thoracic surgery, or cardiothoracic surgery can repair pectus excavatum.

Pediatric surgeon: Most pediatric surgeons are trained in minimally invasive correction of pectus excavatum. The operation is called a nuss procedure. It takes about 50 minutes of surgical time. There are videos on you tube which you can familiarize yourself with the operation. Qualified pediatric surgeons can be located using the apsa website(american pediatric surgical association).

Pediatric surgeon: You need to see a pediatric surgeon with experience in minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum. The workup will include chest CT scan, cardiology and lung evaluation. The surgery is usually performed for severe pectus excavatum with cardiorespiratory symptoms. The largest experience in the US is at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk, VA.

Pediatric surgeon: Pectus excavatum does not alway require surgical repair. When patients have severe deformities and have an impact on their breathing or exercise tolerance, we repair pectus deformities, many with minimally invasive techniques like the "nuss procedure".

Pediatric surgeon: Unless the patient is an adult. If the pediatric surgeon has adult privileges then that would be the first choice.

Pectus: In the United States, patients with pectus excavatum should be evaluated by a pediatric surgeon that has expertise and experience in treating children as well as adults with this congenital chest wall malformation.