Delayed Pericardial Effusion after the Nuss Procedure for Pectus Excavatum-A Case Report and Literature Review

A 31-year-old male presented to our emergency department with symptoms of chest pain and progressive dyspnea that had persisted for 2 days. A series of examinations revealed massive pericardial effusion that required drainage and appeared to be caused by a flipping bar for a pectus excavatum repair 4 weeks before. An urgent subxiphoid pericardiostomy was done and anti-inflammatory drugs were administered subsequently. We report the present case to illustrate a rare but potentially life-threatening complication after the Nuss procedure and to suggest a treatment strategy.