The aim of the current study was to compare the effects of sevoflurane and desflurane on respiratory mechanics in patients undergoing repair of pectus excavatum.

The minimally invasive technique for pectus excavatum repair was introduced by Nuss and colleagues using a metal bar to lift the depressed chest wall. This surgical procedure is usually done under general anesthesia with tracheal intubation. After inserting metal bar into the chest wall, decreased lung compliance was shown. Previous studies demonstrated that administering desflurane during anesthesia resulted in marked increases in respiratory mechanical parameters, especially in the children with airway susceptibility. Our primary hypothesis was that desflurane would cause an increase in respiratory resistance and a decrease in lung compliance compared to sevoflurane during repair of pectus excavatum.

Inclusion Criteria:

• clinical diagnosis of Pectus Excavatum
• undergoing minimally invasive repair

Exclusion Criteria:

• younger than 15 year old
• history of upper respiratory tract infection within recent 2 weeks
• asthma
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• previous treatment with bronchoactive drugs (B-agonist or antagonist, theophyline, anticholinergics and corticosteroid)
• history of neurological deficits