Nuss procedure without videothoracoscopy

Minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (Nuss) operation is the current choice of surgical treatment for pectus excavatum deformities. Technical pitfalls arise in patients with previous thoracic and/or cardiac surgical interventions, due to severe intrathoracic fibrous adhesions. Herein, we describe an original modification technique in a patient with bilateral apical wedge resection and total pleurectomy due to recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax episodes within the past two years. Correction was performed by opening the pleura bilaterally and retrosternal release with digital palpation via a subxiphoid incision, to help to guide the introducer and the pectus bar, without a videothoracoscopic visualization.