Outcomes After Pectus Excavatum Repair: A Nationwide Comparison of Nuss Versus Ravitch Operations

Abstract

Introduction: Pectus excavatum is the most prevalent chest wall deformity. Repair may be offered via Nuss or Ravitch technique. This study aims to investigate the outcomes of these repairs using a national cohort.

Methods: The Nationwide Readmission Database was queried from 2016 to 2020 for patients aged 12-21 y old with pectus excavatum. Demographics, hospital characteristics, and outcomes were analyzed using standard statistical tests. The results were weighted for national estimates.

Results: A total of 10,053 patients with pectus excavatum underwent repair (86% Nuss, n = 8673 and 14% Ravitch, n = 1380). Baseline characteristics were similar between cohorts. Nuss repair patients traveled more frequently out of state for repair (10.5% versus 8.7%) and were in the highest income quartiles (61.1% versus 57.3%), both P < 0.05. Of reporting hospitals, 60% performed only the Nuss procedure. The Ravitch cohort experienced higher rates of complications during index admission, including chest tube placement (5.1% versus 2.2%), bleeding (2.4% versus 0.6%), air leak (0.9% versus 0.3%), and respiratory failure (1.0% versus 0.3%), as well as longer median length of stay (4 versus 3 d), all with a P value < 0.05. While both cohorts had similar overall readmission rates, Ravitch repairs had higher rates of readmissions for bleeding (18.3% versus 4.5%), pain (32.9% versus 13.5%), and psychiatric complications (31.7% versus 21.2%), all with a P value < 0.05. Ravitch repairs also incurred higher total hospital costs ($18,670 versus 17,462, P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Nuss repairs were associated with fewer index complications with no increase in readmissions compared to Ravitch procedures. However, disparities may exist in access to Nuss repair.

Keywords: Cost analysis; Nuss repair; Outcomes; Pectus excavatum repair; Ravitch repair; Readmissions.