Does pectus excavatum cause chest pain?

Pectus excavatum can compromise lung and heart capacity, especially when the condition is severe, causing fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, and a fast heartbeat.

Does pectus excavatum affect the heart?

Severe cases of pectus excavatum can compress the heart and lungs or push the heart over to one side. Even mild cases of pectus excavatum can result in self-image problems.

Can a concave chest cause chest pain?

A doctor may take measurements of a person’s sunken chest and track it over time to determine if it’s getting worse. People with severe pectus excavatum may experience shortness of breath and chest pain.

Has anyone died pectus excavatum?

One of the 6 died in 1947 because of complications from pectus repair. No autopsied patient with pectus excavatum died between the ages of 5 and 14 years. Eighteen were infants younger than 1 year, and all 18 died because of conditions unrelated to pectus excavatum.

Is pectus excavatum genetic?

Conclusions: Pedigree analysis of 34 families provides evidence that pectus excavatum is an inherited disorder, possibly of connective tissue. Although some families demonstrate apparent Mendelian inheritance, most appear to be multifactorial.

What are the side effects of pectus excavatum?

But severe pectus excavatum can cause a deep hollow in the chest that can put pressure on the lungs and heart, causing: problems tolerating exercise. limitations with some kinds of physical activities. tiredness. chest pain. a rapid heartbeat or heart palpitations. frequent respiratory infections.

What causes pectus excavatum pain in the chest?

However, surgeons believe that the sternum compression on the lungs and heart is the exact cause. Another theory is how the pectoralis muscles cross the chest and attach to the rib cage and sternum. When the pectus excavatum chest pain occurs, it doesn’t last a very long time. It occurs unexpectedly, for plenty of times throughout the day.

What does pectus excavatum mean in medical terms?

Pectus excavatum. Print. Pectus excavatum. Pectus excavatum Pectus excavatum is a condition in which a person’s breastbone is sunken into his or her chest. Severe cases of pectus excavatum can eventually interfere with the function of the heart and lungs.

What happens to the heart after pectus excavatum surgery?

Several medical studies have indicated that the sternum may press on the heart enough that the heart cannot fill with blood and pump it out as rapidly as with a normal chest. These same studies demonstrate that the pumping ability of the heart is improved following surgical repair of pectus excavatum.