TEXAS HEART INSTITUTE JOURNAL, cilt.29, sa.3, ss.206-209, 2002 (SCI-Expanded)
We report herein a rare case of complete congenital sternal cleft (absent sternum) and anterior pericardial defect in association with pectus excavatum. In neonates with absent sternum, the sternal bars can be easily approximated by simple suture, due to the flexibility of the cartilaginous thorax. There is also little danger of cardiac compression when the repair is performed early in life.