A 3-year-old girl with pectus excavatum successfully underwent exploration using video-assisted thoracic surgery. A complete pericardial defect was identified. The lung was kept totally collapsed during the procedure using low-flow (1 L/min), low-pressure (7 mmHg) carbon dioxide insufflation. This technique is expected to be a safe adjunct to thoracoscopic procedures in infants and small children.
Carbon dioxide insufflarion - Video-assisted thoracic surgery - Congenital pericardial defect