Ravitch Procedure

The Ravitch procedure works by removing abnormal cartilage and returning your child’s sternum to a normal position. During the Ravitch procedure, a surgeon will:

1. Make a cut (incision) in your child’s chest.
2. Elevate the pectoralis muscles covering the ribs.
3. Remove the abnormal costal cartilages (rib cartilage) on each side of their sternum.
4. Raise their sternum up from its sunken position (or lower it for pectus carinatum) and secure it in the correct position.
5. Put a stainless steel bar under the sternum or plates on top of the sternum to maintain the appropriate position.
6. Close the pectoralis muscles and incisions over a drain.

The Ravitch procedure takes about two to three hours.

After surgery, your child will have drains in their chest to remove excess fluid and a catheter in their bladder to collect their urine (pee). They’ll probably only need the catheter for one or two days. A provider will remove drains from your child’s chest two or three days after surgery.

A provider will need to remove the support bar after at least one year. If a provider uses a plate, they don’t remove it. Your child will be able to go home the same day as this future procedure to remove the bar.

If your child’s provider puts in a plate they attach with screws, they don’t need to remove it in the future.