Retrospective study comparing outcomes of multimodal epidural and erector spinae catheter pain protocols after pectus surgery

Pectus excavatum, one of the most common chest wall abnormalities occurring in approximately 1 in 1,000 children, is characterized by a concave depression of the anterior chest wall.[1] Classically, pectus repair occurred via an open (Ravitch) approach. In the 1990s, the minimally invasive Nuss procedure was introduced. In this repair, a rigid, convex bar(s) is placed under the defect in the sternum and costal cartilage under thoracoscopic guidance and then flipped to elevate the chest.[2] The Nuss procedure offers the benefit of smaller incisions, shorter operating times, and decreased blood loss compared to the open Ravitch approach.