Thailand introduces new breastbone surgery

BANGKOK, April 21 (TNA) - Bangkok-based Ramathibodi Hospital has announced its success in fixing distorted breast in patients via a new video scope surgery. According to Assistant Professor Doctor Wichai Pansrimangkorn of the government-run Ramathibodi Hospital’s Pediatric Surgery Division, the process starts with a video scope used to observe inside patients' chests and doctors then place stainless steel tubes inside to reshape their chest bones. The new technique takes only 30 minutes and patients are hospitalized for just 4-5 days, unlike traditional operations which took longer time and caused more bleeding with big wounds left on patients as they required a removal of multiple bones off the patients' chests. The newly-introduced surgery, which costs around 50,000-60,000 baht each, is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old. In Thailand, deformed breastbones have been found in 75 per cent of population, with no impacts on lung and heart functions, but the patients' confidence in their social exposures.(TNA)