Frequency of MVP and Congenital Heart Disease in Children with Pectus Chest Wall Deformity: Five-Years of Experience

Abstract

Abstract Pectus anomalies constitute 95% of chest anomalies. Pectus carinatum (PC) and excavatum (PE) are often asymptomatic in childhood. However, symptoms and signs such as chest pain, dyspnea and mitral valve prolapse (MVP) can be seen in pectus anomalies. Demographic characteristics and accompanying cardiac signs in children with pectus deformity were investigated. In this study, the clinical findings of children with pectus deformity and the frequency of MVP and other concomitant heart diseases detected in echocardiographic examinations were evaluated. Eighty-two PE, 27 PC, and 107 healthy children were included in this study. In the echocardiographic examination of PE, PC patients and healthy children, MVP was detected with a frequency of 25%, 33% and 2% respectively. The study showed that pectus anomalies were associated with an increased frequency of MVP. Therefore, all patients with pectus deformity should undergo a screening echocardiogram in adolescence to assess for presence of MVP.