Professor Rokitansky, you are among the leading specialists in the treatment of chest wall deformities, including pectus excavatum. What methods do you use?
With many years of experience, including 12 years at the II Surgical University Clinic in Vienna and 27 years as head of Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery at Donaustadt Clinic, I have managed to build the largest pediatric surgery center in Austria. Now, as Head of Surgery at Wiener Privatklinik, I combine my experience with the traditional adult orthopedics department and a new focus on pediatric orthopedics. Chest wall deformities, such as pectus excavatum, are not just cosmetic problems. We use two main treatment methods:
- Conservative approach with vacuum bell therapy
- Surgical treatment with individually shaped metal implants
How does vacuum cupping therapy work?
The therapy uses devices that create negative and positive pressure to shape the affected cartilaginous areas. For patients with protruding lower ribs, we use a special Y-shaped vacuum bell that simultaneously applies positive pressure to the ribs and negative pressure to the funnel.
Patients should use the device for approximately two hours daily. Timing and consistency are key to success. This treatment is most effective in school-aged children, but there are exceptions.
What are the benefits of therapy for the health of a patient with a chest wall deformity?
By elevating the anterior chest wall, cardiac output and respiratory mechanics are improved, significantly impacting the patient's overall health and physical activity.
What are the options if conservative therapy is not sufficient?
In more complex cases of chest wall deformity, especially in older patients, we offer minimally invasive surgery with endoscopic assistance. We use custom-made implants that stably correct the deformity. In more severe cases, partial resection of the costal cartilage may be necessary to ensure greater flexibility of the chest wall.
How does recovery proceed after surgical intervention for chest wall deformity?
Patients remain in the hospital for approximately 4-5 days. From the second day after surgery, they can move with the help of trained staff, and light exercises are permitted after one month. Full recovery for sports activities occurs about two months after the procedure.
How does Wiener Privatklinik ensure highly specialized care for these patients?
Our clinic offers the highest standards of surgical competence and personalized treatment. In addition, we are the first hospital in Austria to introduce robotic surgery with the Da Vinci system. For chest wall deformity surgeries, children are accompanied by a parent, and our team of pediatric anesthesiologists ensures maximum safety. Only highly qualified specialists work at WPK, performing surgical procedures without any training interventions.
