Pectus Excavatum Camouflage (IT)

A 3D printed custom-made scaffold made of medical-grade polycaprolactone (m-PCL) is planned to be implanted to correct pectus excavatum defects.

Participants will be recruited at the Meyer Hospital (Florence, Italy). The patient is assessed clinically by the PI with a direct history and examination, in conjunction with the imaging reviewed by the Principal Investigator and his team. Imaging is organised through the Meyer Hospital imaging department and includes chest CT and MRI. Patients will be formally enrolled into the trial after written informed consent is obtained from the patients and from their parents/legal guardian (in case of minor patients). If the patient is deemed suitable and satisfy the inclusion and exclusion criteria, as assessed by the Principal Investigator and his team, a custom-made scaffold is designed based on his/her medical-imaging.

The procedure for implantation of the scaffold is similar to the procedure for implantation of silicone implants. A small incision is made in the chest, a pre-sternal pocked is defined, following this an empty scaffold is implanted at the site of the defect (pectus excavatum) with skin closed directly over it. At the same intervention, autologous fat transfer is performed, harvesting fat from available donor sites such as the thighs and abdomen - depending on scaffold volume and patient morphology. The scaffold provides structural stability to the infiltration of the tissue inside the scaffold. Once the scaffold is fully absorbed, the tissue, which infiltrated it is expected to provide structural stability to the void defect and potentially ensuring a stable outcome.

After the scaffold implantation and fat grafting procedure, patients will remain an inpatient for the necessary number of days after the surgery. In uncomplicated cases, patients will be reviewed at trial required follow up visits at 1, 3-, 6-, 12- and 24-months post-surgery. Each follow up visit will include routine clinical assessments, review of adverse events and medications, repeat MRI scans and completion of questionnaires for the patients. The focus of these assessments is to identify complications, while establishing clinical and radiological evidence of soft tissue retention.

All appointments and clinical assessment will be documented in the patient medical record.

Inclusion criteria

• Genetic female patients of age 14 years and up OR Genetic male patients of age 16 years and up without cardiopulmonary compromise seeking correction or improvement of pectus excavatum-associated with anterior chest wall deformity and/or congenital defect.
• Patient willing and able to comply with the study requirements (e.g., all scheduled appointments).
• Patient is eligible to undergo MRI (i.e., no implanted metal or metal devices, no history of severe claustrophobia).
• Patient and his/her parents/legal guardian (in case of minor patients) capable of providing valid written informed consent.
• Have sufficient body fat for homologous transplantation.
• The patient/Guardian has "realistic" expectations of surgical results as determined by the PI.

Exclusion criteria

• Genetic females less than 14 years of age at the time of surgery.
• Genetic males less than 16 years of age at the time of surgery.
• Active infection anywhere in the body.
• Patient chest wall tissue is clinically incompatible for the procedure as determined by PI.
• Compromised vascularity in the pectoralis muscle and subcutaneous tissue.
• Patient and is/her parents/legal guardian (in case of minor patients) unwilling or unable to provide fully informed consent including but not limited to patients with intellectual or mental impairment.
• Patient with a known history of immunodeficiency including HIV, concomitant systemic corticosteroid therapy, chemotherapy, synchronous haematological malignancy, or other cause for secondary/primary immunodeficiency.
• Known severe concurrent or inter-current illness including cardiovascular, respiratory, or immunological illness, psychiatric disorders, alcohol or chemical dependence, possible allergies that would, in the opinion of the Co-ordinating Principal Investigator, compromise their safety or compliance or interfere with interpretation of study results.
• Patient with unstable cardiac or respiratory function due to pectus excavatum or those still requiring functional repair.
• Body mass Index (BMI below 20 and above 30 (patients with a BMI above 30 may still be eligible pending assessment by investigating team and documentation of rationale).
• Female patients who are currently pregnant or breast feeding, or who are planning to become pregnant within two years after the pectus excavatum camouflage surgery.
• Female patients of childbearing potential without an appropriate contraceptive method.
• Patient ineligible to undergo MRI.
• Patient life expectancy < 36 months.
• Patient unable or unwilling to comply with the treatment protocol.