Chest wall deformities at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital
Pediatric specialists at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis deliver advanced care for children with chest wall abnormalities. The chest wall program brings together a multispecialty team to diagnose, treat and repair chest wall conditions. Your child’s care team includes pediatric general surgeons and advanced practice providers, pediatric anesthesiologists, pediatric hospitalists, physical therapists, and child life specialists.
Care for chest wall conditions in children and teens
Doctors at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital specialize in the evaluation, treatment and management of chest wall abnormalities, including pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum. Pectus carinatum occurs when the breastbone and ribs grow outward. It’s often noticed during growth spurts in adolescence and is more common in boys. Pectus excavatum occurs when the breastbone grows inward. It’s usually present at birth but can become more noticeable as a child grows.
Some children with chest wall deformities do not have symptoms. While some children may experience symptoms such as:
- Chest pain
- Differences in the appearance of the chest
- Difficulty performing physical activities
- Shortness of breath
Diagnosing and treating pediatric chest wall conditions
Your child’s first visit with a general surgeon starts with a conversation. Your child may have tests, such as a chest CT, echocardiogram or pulmonary function test, to help make a diagnosis.
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Chest CT
This test is used to evaluate the severity of pectus excavatum.
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Echocardiogram
This test is used to evaluate your child's heart function.
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Pulmonary function tests
This test is used to determine if the chest wall abnormality has impacted your child's lung function.