Introduction

Funnel chest, also known as pectus excavatum, is a congenital deformity that causes the breastbone to sink into the chest. For many patients, especially children, minimally invasive surgery offers a more attractive option compared to traditional open - chest surgery, with benefits such as reduced pain, less scarring, and faster recovery. In New York City, several hospitals stand out for their expertise in funnel - chest minimally invasive surgery. This article will explore these hospitals in detail, considering factors such as their surgical programs, experienced medical staff, and advanced technology.

Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York - Presbyterian

Overview of the Hospital

Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top five children's hospitals in the country, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York - Presbyterian is a leading institution in pediatric care. It offers comprehensive pediatric services in a family - friendly and technologically advanced setting. The hospital is affiliated with Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and is New York City's only hospital dedicated solely to the care of children. It also serves as a major international referral center for children from infancy through adolescence worldwide.

Minimal Access Surgery Program

The hospital's Comprehensive Pediatric Minimal Access Surgery Program is well - known. It has a new operating room, the OR - 1 integrated operating room, along with other minimal access technologies and expertise. Pediatric minimal access surgery is available to newborns and children of all ages. This type of surgery involves performing a wide range of procedures through small "keyhole" incisions instead of large incisions through the chest, abdomen, or other parts of the body.

Surgeons at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital use instruments and video equipment to perform surgeries through these smaller openings. The benefits of minimal access surgery are significant. There is reduced pain and less need for pain medication, better cosmetic results (minimal scars), less blood loss, and shorter hospital stays. In many cases, recovery time is half that of traditional open surgery.

According to Dr. Jeffrey L. Zitsman, the director of pediatric minimal access surgery at the hospital, "In addition to going home from the hospital sooner, children and their parents can return more quickly to normal activity, including school and work."

Funnel - Chest Surgery

Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital is a leader in the minimal access surgical repair of funnel chest. Dr. Charles J. Stolar, the chief of the division of pediatric surgery at the hospital, stated, "We are the only hospital regionally to offer minimal access surgical repair of so - called sunken or funnel chest, a congenital defect that can result in significant disfigurement of the child's chest wall."

The hospital performs the minimally invasive Nuss procedure, or video - assisted pectus excavatum repair. This procedure, named after its inventor, Dr. Donald Nuss of Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters (Norfolk, VA), allows for a complete repair without the need for a highly invasive procedure involving rib resections and fracture of the sternum.

Operating Room Technology

The OR - 1 operating room, which opened in January 2005, is a remarkable technological asset. At its core, it is a computer system that allows the surgeon to control every aspect of the operating room, from accessing a patient's x - ray images or lab results to controlling the lighting and temperature levels. Four separate monitors can display live video from the surgery (such as from an endoscope) or any relevant patient information, a teleconference, and the ability to record video onto DVD. The system is also an ideal teaching tool because its viewing monitors enable anyone in the OR to see what is happening.

The OR - 1 provides centralized management of up to 31 separate medical devices, as well as an unlimited number of environmental controls. Additionally, the system allows medical device settings to be preprogrammed according to procedure specifications and surgeons' preferences. In short, it allows the surgeon and nurses to focus on the patients and procedure instead of the equipment.

Weill Cornell Medicine

Cardiothoracic Surgery Expertise

Weill Cornell Medicine's Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery specializes in many minimally invasive surgical techniques. In fact, its surgeons have pioneered many of these approaches. Minimally invasive surgical techniques have transformed cardiothoracic surgery, offering benefits such as smaller incisions, less blood loss, less discomfort, a shorter hospital stay, and a faster recovery.

Range of Minimally Invasive Procedures

• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR): This minimally invasive approach repairs or replaces a diseased heart valve by threading a catheter up to the heart through a blood vessel in the groin. Weill Cornell surgeons were leaders in the clinical trials that established this technique's effectiveness.
• Mini - Sternotomy or Partial Sternotomy: Many procedures, such as aortic valve replacement, mitral valve repair/replacement, and aneurysm repair can be performed through a small incision and partial sternotomy. This is an alternative to traditional, “open - heart” surgery.
• Endovascular Stent - Graft Placement for Aortic Aneurysms (TEVAR and EVAR): Some patients needing an aneurysm repair may be good candidates for this type of minimally invasive surgery. The surgeon threads a catheter into the aorta through a blood vessel in the patient's groin. A stent (metal or plastic tube) is guided through the catheter and placed at the site of the aneurysm, where it opens up and acts as a scaffold to support the walls of the aorta. Weill Cornell was chosen as one of only two centers in the New York metropolitan area to use a new, FDA - approved device, which allows for more rapid recovery.
• Robotic Mitral Valve Surgery: The mitral valve can be repaired or replaced with the assistance of a robotic system. This procedure is done through a small incision in the skin.
• Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG): The surgeon performs this procedure through a two - or three - inch incision between the ribs. Surgeons at Weill Cornell conduct this operation using a specialized surgical robot and heart stabilizer developed by their own surgeons. Some patients may have "off - pump" beating heart surgery that can be accomplished without the need for a heart - lung machine.
• Percutaneous Valve Surgery: Percutaneous valve repair or replacement is a minimally invasive approach that uses a catheter to repair or replace a diseased valve by threading a catheter up to the heart through a blood vessel in the groin. Weill Cornell surgeons were leaders in the clinical trials that established percutaneous valve surgery's effectiveness.

Potential for Funnel - Chest - Related Procedures

While Weill Cornell Medicine's focus is more on cardiothoracic surgery, its expertise in minimally invasive techniques may extend to procedures related to funnel - chest treatment. The advanced skills and technology used in these heart - related surgeries could potentially be applied in a funnel - chest context, especially if there are associated cardiac complications or if minimally invasive access to the chest area is required for repair.

Mount Sinai Health System

Thoracic Surgery Services

At the Mount Sinai Department of Thoracic Surgery, surgeons work closely with other specialists in the health system. The hospital treats the full spectrum of thoracic (chest) diseases and conditions, including Barrett’s esophagus, carcinoid tumors, cancer of the trachea, chest wall tumors, emphysema, esophageal cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), germ cell tumors, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), lung cancer and pleural diseases, mediastinal tumors, mesothelioma, neuroendocrine tumors, swallowing disorders, thymoma and other thymic tumors.

Minimally Invasive Approaches

Mount Sinai uses minimally invasive approaches whenever possible. These techniques help patients recover more quickly, decrease side effects, and cause less pain than traditional approaches. Some of the procedures commonly used include:

• Video - Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) Lobectomy: The faculty at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has led national trials for this procedure. VATS is particularly helpful with early - stage lung cancer.
• Robotics: Mount Sinai has pioneered the use of robotic surgery to treat thoracic diseases. The hospital continues to develop less invasive procedures using this technology.
• Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) and Navigational Bronchoscopy: Experts at Mount Sinai perform biopsies with these minimally invasive techniques in cases that once demanded operative procedures.

Application to Funnel - Chest Surgery

The hospital's expertise in minimally invasive thoracic surgery could potentially be translated to funnel - chest surgery. The experience with minimally invasive techniques for chest - related diseases and the use of advanced technologies like robotics and VATS may provide innovative solutions for funnel - chest repair. The multidisciplinary approach at Mount Sinai, involving various specialists, can also ensure comprehensive care for patients with funnel chest.

NYU Langone Health

Thoracic Surgery Excellence

NYU Langone's thoracic surgeons specialize in using robotic - assisted surgical techniques to manage even the most complex cancers and other conditions that involve the lungs, esophagus, trachea, diaphragm, and mediastinum, as well as the surrounding chest area. In U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” rankings, NYU Langone is tied for no. 1 in the nation for pulmonology and lung surgery.

Robotic - Assisted Surgery Benefits

Robotic - assisted surgery is a minimally invasive technique that allows for smaller incisions, resulting in faster recovery time, shorter hospital stay, and less postoperative pain. NYU Langone was among the first to use robotic - assisted surgery to treat cancers and diseases of the chest, and its surgeons are among the most experienced in the world in using these methods. Thoracic surgeons from around the world regularly come to NYU Langone to learn how to master these techniques.

Procedures and Treatment for Funnel Chest

Although the focus is often on thoracic diseases, the hospital's expertise in robotic - assisted minimally invasive surgery could be beneficial for funnel - chest surgery. The precise control and smaller incisions offered by robotic - assisted surgery may be well - suited for funnel - chest repair, potentially leading to better cosmetic results and faster patient recovery. The collaborative approach of the surgeons with pulmonologists and specialists in medical oncology, radiation oncology, and radiology from NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center ensures a comprehensive treatment strategy for patients.

Columbia University Irving Medical Center (Columbia Surgery)

Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery Program

The thoracic surgery program at Columbia is a world leader in minimally invasive surgery, even for the most complex cases and diseases. The hospital's skilled surgeons have helped develop and refine many of the techniques commonly used today, and they continue to explore innovative new treatments.

Benefits of Minimally Invasive Techniques

Minimally invasive surgery at Columbia uses small, flexible cameras and lights to guide the procedure and replaces the single large incision with several smaller openings. These methods sometimes employ a robotic arm that mimics a surgeon’s movements for more precise control. By reducing the stress and trauma on the body during the surgery, minimally invasive techniques offer benefits like faster recovery, shorter hospital stay, lower risk of complications and infection, and smaller or no incisions.

Services and Their Relevance to Funnel Chest

The services offered at Columbia include laparoscopic surgery, thoracoscopic surgery, video - assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), robotic - assisted thoracic surgery (RATS), lung - sparing sublobar segmentectomy, navigational magnetic bronchoscopy, and image - guided bronchoscopy (to diagnose and treat early lung cancer). These techniques can potentially be adapted for funnel - chest surgery, providing minimally invasive options for patients with this condition. The hospital's focus on organ - preserving treatments and its position at the forefront of innovation make it a strong candidate for funnel - chest treatment.

Comparison of Hospitals

Conclusion

In New York City, several hospitals offer high - quality options for funnel - chest minimally invasive surgery. Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York - Presbyterian stands out for its specialized pediatric approach and regional leadership in funnel - chest repair. Weill Cornell Medicine's cardiothoracic expertise and advanced minimally invasive heart surgery techniques could be useful in certain funnel - chest cases. Mount Sinai Health System's multidisciplinary approach and experience with thoracic minimally invasive procedures make it a strong candidate. NYU Langone Health's robotic - assisted surgery capabilities offer benefits in terms of recovery and precision. Columbia University Irving Medical Center's world - leading minimally invasive thoracic surgery program provides innovative solutions for complex cases.

If you or someone you know is considering funnel - chest minimally invasive surgery in New York City, it is essential to consult with the medical teams at these hospitals. Gather more information about their specific surgical approaches, success rates, and patient experiences. You can also discuss your individual needs and concerns with the doctors to make an informed decision about the best hospital for your treatment. Don't hesitate to explore further by reaching out to these hospitals directly and sharing this article with others who may find it helpful.