What is the Ravitch procedure?

Also known as: pectus carinatum, pectus excavatum or combination chest wall deformity surgery.

Chest wall deformities are divided into 3 major categories:

• Pectus excavatum (a sunken-in chest)
• Pectus carinatum (chest that protrudes outward)
• Combination chest wall deformity (when one side of the chest protruding while the other side is caved in)

The Ravitch procedure is a surgery that can correct all these conditions. It was used extensively in the past but has given way to other non-surgical methods as the first choices of treating chest wall deformities in most cases today.

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Reviewed by: Cathy Anne Burnweit, MD

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM