Modern surgery is a safe procedure but unfortunately complications are always possible. As doctors we attempt at all times to avoid mishaps and the post-operative treatment is vital to make the operation as safe as possible.

 The patient will be mobilized out of bed as soon as he/she is stable and awake and typically this will be within 2 hours of the end of the operation. Chest physiotherapy will be ordered on the same day as the operation.

Pain relief will be adequate with an epidural catheter being placed with all major cases to limit post-operative pain to make the mobilization much easier. Click here to learn more about epidural anesthesia.

Usually you will be able to have a light supper.

You are urged to speak to the staff if you have any needs. It is unnecessary to suffer while in hospital.

 Many complications occur but the incidence is rare. The condition for which an operation is being performed is much more dangerous left untreated than the potential complications which seldom occur.

A list of Complications can be viewed. Click here to see a partial list. A list specific for Cardiac Surgery click here. A list for Thoracic Surgery click here.

Pectus excavatum occurs in approximately 1 in 400 live births.  The defect becomes progressively worse with growth and in the teenage years can become disabling.  Although considered cosmetic, and it is most certainly cosmetic, there are also well documented physiological changes such as decreased effort tolerance and cardiac arrhythmias.  The  young patients become used to the disability and are not really aware of any physiologic abnormalities until after the defect is repaired. For a good discription click here.

 The standard repair is the open or Ravitch operation which was first described in 1950 and has become the standard.  This procedure involves resecting multiple cartilages on each side of the sternum and splitting the sternum longitudinally to place it in the new position.  A new procedure was described by Nuss 16 years ago and is  a minimally invasive procedure which involves placing a steel bar behind the sternum pushing the sternum into the new position.  This is a much more cosmetic procedure involving small lateral incisions.  Especially in young girls this is a more preferable operation. The results from many centers are excellent and compared very favorably with the older Ravitch procedure.
There are two main approaches to repair of the defect. Click here for more information.
The Nuss operation is a minimally invasive procedure which was discribed by a Cape Town graduate Dr Nuss 16 years ago. It is a much quicker operation which gives considerably good results. Paper from Iceland click here. The operation is well discribed in this article(click here). For a  good article click here. And here

The Nuss procedure is now being performed in South Africa. For more information contact a Thoracic Surgeon.

Our lifestyles have changed dramatically. With ever-increasing advances in technology we have become physically less active. The most prevalent diseases we suffer from today, i.e. heart disease, stroke, cancer, are related to our lifestyles, of which physical activity is a major part. Physical activity should be part of our daily and weekly routine. It is as essential as sleep and nourishment. Although many of us know that exercising will reduce the risk of disease and illness, the thought of exercise can still be overwhelming. Myths that contribute to an inactive lifestyle are that exercise has to be difficult, it has to hurt and you have to do lots of it to be beneficial. These are all false. Exercise is about enjoying a physically active lifestyle (e.g. walking or cycling to the shops rather than driving) that includes increasing your heart rate (such as brisk walking) a few times a week.

To see the Bandolier article click here

Definition   A pneumothorax is collection of air or gas in the space surrounding the lungs.

Pneumothorax occurs when air leaks from inside of the lung to the space between the lung and the chest wall. The lung then collapses. The dark side of the chest (right side of the picture) is filled with air that is outside of the lung tissue.
Pneumothorax may result from chest trauma, excessive pressure on the lungs, or an underlying

Lung surgery (thoracotomy) for lung cancer.

Surgery to remove all or part of a lung involves making a cut on one side of your chest (thorax) during a procedure called a thoracotomy.
Surgery that uses this approach avoids areas in the chest that contain the heart and the spinal cord.