Long-Term Sensory Function 3 years after Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum with Cryoablation
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- Nearly half (46.8%) of patients had detectable chest wall hypoesthesia 3 years post-cryoablation, affecting median 4-6% of chest surface.
- Hypoesthesia patterns varied: 9.3% to cold, 7.7% to soft touch, 11.8% to pinprick—but areas were small and localized.
- Neuropathic pain occurred in 13% of patients but was mild enough that none required treatment at 3-year follow-up.
- Cryoablation during pectus repair reduces acute opioid use and LOS without causing clinically significant long-term sensory deficits.
- Families can be counseled that small sensory changes are common but symptomatic neuropathic pain requiring intervention is rare.
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Studies have shown that the repair of pectus excavatum using minimally invasive techniques with intercostal nerve cryoablation decreases patient length of stay and opioid use, but are there long-term side effects of the cryoablation? Hi, this is Kim Priven, a research fellow at Cincinnati Children's, and we think this is. Article worth knowing about. This was a single institution prospective cohort study of 47 patients under 21 years of age who presented for a bar removal after a median of two bars were placed for 2.9 years. The purpose of this study was to better understand if there's long-term hypoesthesia and neuropathic pain. The patients were assessed for chest wall hypoesthesia to cold, soft touch, and pinprick, as well as assessed for neuropathic pain. The results may surprise you. 46.8% of patients had identifiable chest wall hypoesthesia, with 9.3% to a cold response, 7.7% of patients to soft touch, and 11.8% of patients. To pinprick. Neuropathic pain symptoms were also identified in 13% of the patients, however, none of them required treatment. In conclusion, pediatric patients who underwent the minimally invasive repair with cryo will often develop some small areas of hypoesthesia, but clinically significant neuropathic pain is rare. Thank you for watching, like and share, and check back often for more articles we think you should know about.