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Chest Wall Defect Center

Welcome to the Tulane Chest Wall Center, a center dedicated to the treatment of pectus excavatum (sunken chest, funnel chest) and pectus carinatum (protruding chest, pigeon chest) for children and adults. Our dedicated team of doctors, nurses, child life therapists, dieticians, social workers and office staff are experts in caring for children and their families.

At the Tulane Chest Wall Center, we provide medical care that is both world-class and nurturing. The Tulane Chest Wall Center offers a state-of-the-art minimally invasive approach (Nuss Procedure) for the correction of pectus excavatum as well as a non-invasive approach (that does not require surgery) for the treatment of pectus carinatum.

Pectus Excavatum: While many families believe that the treatment of pectus excavatum is purely for cosmetic reasons, in reality, many children suffer physiologic limitations including shortness of breath, limited endurance and poor self esteem, as a result. We have years of experience using minimally invasive repair for pectus excavatum.  The minimally invasive approach allows minimal blood loss with almost no need for transfusion, rapid recovery, and minimal need to disfigure the chest wall.  Both incisions are under the arms so that the chest wall has no incision when viewed from the front.

Pectus Carinatum: Pectus carinatum is not usually accompanied with physiologic limitations, but can also contribute to poor self esteem. Previously, surgery was the only option; however, today these defects can be repaired by those experienced with the use of orthotic bracing.  This means no anesthesia, no surgery, no incisions.

Services & Treatments

Physicians & Staff

Thomas Yeh, M.D., Director of Chest Wall Center
Lori Miknaitis, R.N., Nurse Clinician 
Jeannine Rousse, R.N., Nurse Clinician

Location

Tulane Pediatric Specialty Clinic
1415 Tulane Ave
5th Floor
New Orleans, LA 70112

Phone: 504-988-CARE (2273)