Before, During and After...

(Caution: the images below are graphic in nature and may not be suitable for all audiences.😅)

Seriously!


I know we have quite a few family and friends that LOVE medical details.  So this is the post they've probably been waiting for.  We were gifted with some incredible photos of Tristan's procedure.
I will try to describe the pictures as best I can but please, forgive me if my description of what you are seeing is just a little bit off.  I am definitely NOT a pediatric surgeon. :)

Pre Op - Head is to the left, Waist is to the right
Notice how deep the dip in Tristan's chest.  He could almost fit his fist in it.

Measuring the pectus bar

"Dry fitting" the pectus bar

Inserting the air and camera to facilitate the surgery

Tristan's rib cage bowing down into his chest cavity

A long clamp being woven through Tristan's muscle wall to lift his rib cage

Look at the large gap created just the clamp,
between the Tristan's rib cage (top of pic) and his heart (bottom of pic)!

The long clamp being attached to the pectus bar. 
The clamp is then pulled back, feeding the pectus bar through Tristan's chest.

The pectus bar before it is flipped over

Ta-Dah!  Three small incisions and a little bruising is all you can see on the outside.
Now comes the tough part...healing on the inside.