Objective To study the cl inical features of infantile hemangioma and vascular malformation, to find out a proper strategy of deal ing with them. Methods From March 2000 to August 2007, 2 957 cases of infantile hemangioma and vascular malformation were treated, including 860 operative cases and 2 097 non-operative cases. There were 441 male and419 female patients in operation group, aging 6 months to 18 years (median 5 years). In 1 950 hemangioma patients of nonoperation group, there were 575 male and 1 375 female patients, aging 1 month to 14 years (median 6 months); in 147 vascular malformation patients of non-operation group, there 67 male and 80 female patients, aging 2 years to 17 years (median 7 years). In non-operative group, 147 vascular malformation patients and 1 525 infantile hemangioma patients were followed up without any medical intervention, while other 425 hemangioma patients recceived triamcinolone plus dexamethasone intralesional injection treatment. All the treatments and outcomes were recorded. Results Vascular malformation cases and infantile hemangioma cases presented totally different cl inical features. To the deadl ine of this study, 522 (34%) of 1 525 un-intervented hemangioma cases turned into involuted phase and 383 (90%) of 425 cases receiving triamcinolone plus dexamethasone intralesional injection treatment turned into involuted phase after injection treatment; no regression was noted in 147 cases of vascular malformation. The constituent ratio of infantile hemangioma in 860 operative cases was decreased gradually and the constituent ratio of vascular malformation was increased gradually as the age increasing. Conclusion Infantile hemangioma has a distinct l ife pattern. Except several specific cases need medical intervention for their special location or large ambit and unacceptable growth, most infantile hemangioma need no medical intervention. Most vascular malformations can not regress spontaneously, proper intervention is in need.
Objective To assess the efficacy and summarize the treatment experience in correction of recurrent pectus excavatum by the non-thoracoscopic minimally invasive Nuss procedure. Methods From July 2003 to November 2007, 21 patients with recurrent pectus excavatum were treated with surgical repairs. Among them, there were 15 patients who underwent a Nuss procedure (the recurrent Nuss group), 13 males and 2 females, aged (13.31 ± 4.21) years old, and the preoperative CT scan showed the mean Haller index was 3.98 ± 0.94. The recurrence time of the depression after the primary operation was different: 2 patients with less than 1 year, 4 with 1-3 years, 7 with 3-5 years and 2 with over 5 years. There were 6 patients who underwent a modified Ravitch procedure (the recurrent Ravitch group), 5 males and 1 female, aged (13.67 ± 2.23) years old, and the mean Haller index was 3.92 ± 1.01. The recurrence time of the depression after the primary operation was as follows: 2 patients with less than 1 year, 1 with 1-3 years and 3 with 3-5 years. Another 119 patients had a primary Nuss procedure in the same period (the primary Nuss group), 95 males and 24 females, aged (7.79 ± 3.59) years old, and the mean Haller index was 4.61 ± 1.36. In terms of the age and the Haller index, there was significant difference between the recurrent Nuss group as well as the recurrent Ravitch group and the primary Nuss group (Plt; 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the recurrent Nuss group and the recurrent Ravitch group (Pgt; 0.05). Results All the patients were performed with the surgery successfully without any severe compl ications. The operation time, blood loss and postoperative hospital ization time of the recurrent Nuss group and the primary Nuss group were significantly less than those of the recurrent Ravitch group (P lt; 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the recurrent Nuss group and the primary Nuss group (P gt; 0.05). All the patients were followed up for 1.5-37.0 months (11.2 months on average). Except for 1 with plate displacement and 2 with suture reaction in the primary Nuss group who were readmitted to hospital, the other patients recovered well. The patients had perfect thoracic appearances with increased exercise tolerance and had a significantly improved psychological condition and an active social participation because of their improved appearances. The postoperative mean Haller index was 2.58 ± 0.31, 2.77 ± 0.48 and 2.52 ± 0.34 in the recurrent Nuss group, the recurrent Ravitch group and the primary Nuss group, respectively, with significant difference compared with the preoperative mean Haller index in each group (Plt; 0.05). Conclusion Although the recurrent pectus excavatum repairs are technically more challenging than the primary surgery, the non-thoracoscopic Nuss procedure for reoperative correction is a safe, effective and rel iable method.