Funnel Chest Operation --Cosmetic Late ResultsSummary. Pectus excavatum is a congenital thoracic deformity which in severe cases may result in disturbances of cardiorespiratory physiology. The radiographs of the chest in this condition indicate cardiac displacement (70%). The electrocardiographic findings are the result of cardiac rotation and thoracic deformity and do not reveal any evidence of intraventricular conduction defect or myocardial damage. Generally on cardiac catherzations in funnel chest individuals we have not seen abnormal values. Only one Patient had an abnormal end-diastolic pressure in the right ventricle. The marked restrictions of the intrathoracic space in the cardiac region had no profound influence on venous return and did not impair alveolar gas exchange. There are no complaints if the deformation is but slight. In some cases symptoms arising in affected individuals were a direct outcome of the physical inactivity of mental anxiety resulting from unwarrated invalidism. In the view of the fact that the deformity is congenital, and unpredictably progressive operation should be undertaken. Funnel chest can be corrected satisfactorily by different operation with good physiologic and cosmetic results. The best cosmetic results by the method of Brunner are obtained when the operation is done after the age of 14 years. Because of the dissatisfaction with Brunner's technic in children the operative produce should not done so early.Key-Words: Funnel chest operation --Cosmetic late results.Unmittelbare postoperative Korrekturergebnisse sowie kurzfristige !qaehuntersuehungen nach Trichterbrustoperationen verleiten zu einem nicht berechtigten Optimismus. W/ihrend mit unterschiedlichsten Operationsmethoden fast in allen F/illen ideale oder zumindest befriedigende Frfihergebnisse erzielt werden kSnnen, sind die Sp/£tresultate oft entt/iusehend. Bei Erwaehsenen ist nach unseren Erfahrungen etwa ehl Jahr naeh dem operativen Eingriff keine nennenswerte Ver/~nderung mehr zu erwarten. Bei Jugendlichen und besonders bei I~ndern karm dagegen erst nach Abschlui3 des wesentlichen Wachstumsalters mit endgfiltiger knScherner Konsolidierung der Thoraxwand eine verl/£Bliche Aussage fiber den bleibenden Operationserfolg gemaeht werden. * Herrn Prof. Dr. E. Derra zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet.
