Resumen:
Introduction: Video-assisted percutaneous thoracoplasty involves a complex surgical access with risk of damaging vital structures during the procedure. Historically, different traction and sternal elevation systems have been applied during the intervention to minimize the risk associated with the passage of the instruments between the sternum and the pericardium.
Material and methods: A new sternal traction system is presented by means of an illustrated description. Clinical and sociodemographic data were extracted from the 36 patients operated in our center for Pectus Excavatum between July 2017 and August 2021. The Haller index was not applied as a criterion to determine the use or not of the sternal traction system. Patients were classified according to whether the sternal traction system (TE) or not (ST) had been employed. Statistical analysis of the data collected was performed with STATA, version 15.0 (StataCorp).
Results: Both groups were comparable. Haller's Index was 4.19 ± 0.7 for the sternal traction (TE) group and 3.79 ± 0.3 for the no sternal traction (ST) group. In 25 of the patients the described traction system was used, and in 11 no traction system was used. All patients were operated on by the same surgeon. The mean operative time in minutes was 97.73 ± 46.2 for the ST group and 88.13 ± 18.1 for the TE group (p = 0.87). The mean total days of admission was 7.67 ± 0.82 (TE) and 7.73 ± 1.35 (ST). Mean days of intravenous PCA was 6.08 ± 0.72 (TE) and 5.89 ± 1.45 (ST). The mean number of epidural PCA days was 3.79 ± 0.5 (TE) and 3.36 ± 0.5 (ST) (p = 0.01). All patients presented a favorable postoperative evolution. None of the patients presented discomfort at the level of the sternal wounds during hospitalization. Cosmetic evolution was favorable in all patients.
Conclusions: The sternal traction system presented provides safety when performing retrosternal dissection and placement of the thoracoplasty bar, leading to a decrease in surgical time in cases with a Haller Index higher than 3.5. There have been no complications associated with its use, nor has there been an increase in the number of days of hospitalization or analgesic requirements. There are no aesthetic sequelae for the patients.
