Complications following metal bar removal after Nuss repair are rare in a duocentric retrospective evaluation

Purpose Minimally invasive pectus excavatum repair has gained widespread acceptance and its results and complications are well-described. However, there is a substantial debate on the risks and frequencies of complications following metal bar removal. We, therefore, aimed to analyse all complications that occurred during and after metal bar removal at our two paediatric surgical centres. Methods Bar removal surgeries were identified via procedural codes and electronic records were reviewed using a pre-specified data extraction chart. Both intra- and postoperative complications were included and the latter scored according to Clavien–Dindo. We analysed the influence of the pre-specified potential predictors age, sex, and the number of implanted metal bars on the occurrence of complications using logistic regression. Results We included 279 patients with a median age of 19 years (interquartile range 17–20 years). 15 patients experienced 17 complications. Of 11 postoperative complications, only an enlarging pleural effusion required a chest drain in local anaesthesia, resulting in a Claven-Dindo grade IIIa, whereas the remainder were classified as grade I. Neither age (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84–1.13, P = 0.73), nor sex (aOR 0.88, 95% CI 0.19–4.07, P = 0.87) or the number of bars (aOR 0.64, 95% CI 0.15–2.71, P = 0.547) did influence the occurrence of complications. Conclusion Complications following metal bar removal were scarce in our duocentric retrospective series and usually of minor relevance. However, to address the perceived paucity of data on the frequency and severity of complications following metal bar removal, further studies, including large database research is necessary.