NUSS Procedure in Chennai — Minimally Invasive Pectus Excavatum Surgery

Dr. B. Thanga Saravanan — the Only Surgeon in Chennai performing the NUSS Procedure for Pectus Excavatum. Award-Winning Cardiothoracic Surgeon | FACS Fellow | St Thomas Heart Centre, Chennai.

 
Pectus Excavatum Surgery in Chennai

⭐ Chennai's Only NUSS Procedure Specialist

Dr. B. Thanga Saravanan — Thoracic Surgeon Chennai is the best surgeon currently performing the NUSS (Nuss) procedure for Pectus Excavatum in Chennai. If you or your child has been diagnosed with a sunken chest (Pectus Excavatum), Dr. Thanga Saravanan is your exclusive expert in Tamil Nadu for this life-changing minimally invasive repair. He is available for consultation and surgery at Kesar Speciality Clinic and St Thomas Heart Centre, Chennai.

What is Pectus Excavatum?

Pectus Excavatum — commonly known as ‘sunken chest’ or ‘funnel chest’ — is a congenital chest wall deformity in which the breastbone (sternum) and several ribs grow inward, creating a noticeable depression in the chest. It is the most common chest wall deformity, affecting approximately 1 in 300 to 400 children, and is more prevalent in males.

While mild cases may be purely cosmetic, moderate to severe Pectus Excavatum can compress the heart and lungs, reducing cardiac output and pulmonary function, causing shortness of breath, exercise intolerance, chest pain, and significant psychological distress — particularly in adolescents and young adults.

Signs & Symptoms of Pectus Excavatum

What is the NUSS Procedure?

The NUSS Procedure (also called the Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum — MIRPE) is the gold-standard surgical treatment for Pectus Excavatum. Developed by Dr. Donald Nuss in 1987, it is a minimally invasive technique that corrects the sunken sternum without removing cartilage or cutting through the breastbone.

In the NUSS procedure, a curved stainless steel or titanium bar (called the Nuss bar or pectus bar) is inserted beneath the sternum through two small lateral chest incisions, guided by a thoracoscope (camera). The bar is then flipped to push the sternum outward into the correct position. The bar remains in place for 2–3 years while the chest wall remodels, and is then removed in a short day procedure.

⭐ Only in Chennai — Dr. B. Thanga Saravanan

NUSS Procedure Doctor in Chennai

The NUSS Procedure requires highly specialised thoracic surgical expertise and dedicated equipment. Dr. B. Thanga Saravanan is the only surgeon in Chennai — and one of very few in Tamil Nadu — offering this minimally invasive pectus repair. Patients from across South India travel to Chennai specifically to undergo the NUSS Procedure under his care.

NUSS Procedure vs. Ravitch Procedure

The older Ravitch procedure required open surgery with removal of rib cartilage and sternum manipulation — resulting in large scars and long recovery. The NUSS procedure achieves superior results through just two small incisions, dramatically shorter hospital stay, and far less scarring. Dr. Thanga Saravanan performs the modern NUSS technique exclusively for eligible patients.

Who Needs the NUSS Procedure?

The NUSS procedure is recommended for patients with moderate to severe Pectus Excavatum who meet specific clinical criteria. Dr. Thanga Saravanan conducts a thorough pre-operative assessment before recommending surgery.

Ideal Candidates for NUSS Procedure in Chennai

Adults (up to age 30–35) can also undergo the NUSS procedure, though the chest wall is less flexible and may require a longer bar retention period. Dr. Thanga Saravanan evaluates each adult patient individually.

The NUSS Procedure: Step by Step

Understanding the journey from diagnosis to recovery helps patients and families prepare with confidence. Dr. Thanga Saravanan personally guides every patient through each stage.
Step 1 — Pre-Operative Evaluation
Comprehensive assessment including CT scan of chest (Haller Index calculation), pulmonary function tests (PFTs), echocardiography, electrocardiogram (ECG), blood work, and anaesthetic fitness evaluation. A customised pectus bar is measured and selected based on the patient’s chest dimensions.
The patient is placed under general anaesthesia. An epidural catheter or cryoanalgesia may be used for post-operative pain control. The patient is positioned supine (lying flat) with both arms extended. The chest is prepped and draped.

Two small lateral incisions (2–3 cm each) are made on either side of the chest. A thoracoscope is inserted to visualise the chest cavity. A curved introducer is passed carefully behind the sternum from one side to the other, creating a tunnel in the retrosternal space.

The pre-shaped titanium/steel Nuss bar is attached to the introducer and pulled through the retrosternal tunnel. Once positioned correctly beneath the sternum, the bar is flipped 180 degrees — immediately pushing the sternum and anterior chest wall outward into the corrected position. The cosmetic improvement is visible instantly.

Metal stabilisers (or sutures) are secured to the bar and attached to the ribs to prevent bar displacement. The incisions are closed with absorbable sutures. A chest drain may be placed temporarily to remove any air or fluid.

Patients are monitored in the ward with pain managed via epidural or IV analgesia. Hospital stay is typically 3–5 days. Breathing exercises and early mobilisation are encouraged.

The Nuss bar remains in place for 2–3 years while the chest wall remodels permanently into the corrected shape. Regular follow-up visits are scheduled at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and annually.

After 2–3 years, the bar is removed under general anaesthesia in a short procedure (30–45 minutes), usually as a day surgery. The corrected chest shape is maintained permanently after removal.

Make an appointment

Best Doctor for NUSS Procedure in Chennai — Dr. B. Thanga Saravanan

If you are searching for the best doctor for NUSS procedure in Chennai — or the only surgeon who performs pectus excavatum surgery in Chennai — Dr. B. Thanga Saravanan is your answer. He is the sole specialist in Chennai offering the minimally invasive NUSS (Nuss) procedure for Pectus Excavatum, making him the definitive choice for patients across Tamil Nadu, South India, and beyond.

⭐ Why Dr. Thanga Saravanan is Chennai’s #1 Choice for NUSS Procedure

Chennai’s only NUSS procedure surgeon | Award-winning cardiothoracic surgeon (2024) | International fellowship-trained | FACS Fellow | Dedicated thoracic team | Transparent pricing | Patients travel from across South India for this procedure

Qualifications & Credentials

  • MCh Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery — Madras Medical College, Chennai (Dr. MGR Medical University, 2019–2022)
  • FACS — Fellow, American College of Surgeons (2020)
  • Fellowship in Advanced VATS Thoracic Surgery — Vajira Hospital, Navamindhradhiraj University, Thailand (2025)
  • Fellow, Indian Association of Cardiothoracic Surgeons (IACTS)
  • F.ICRS — Fellow, International College of Robotic Surgeons, World Laparoscopy Hospital
  • Diploma & Fellowship in Minimal Access Surgery (D.MAS, F.MAS)
  • Member, Asian Thoracic Academy (ATA/IN/0085)
  • Member, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC)

Award — Best Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgeon of the Year 2024

Cluster of Achievers Awards, Bangkok, Thailand — recognising outstanding achievement in cardiac and thoracic surgery across Asia.

Current Practice

  • Consultant Cardiovascular and Thoracic surgeon, Kesar Speciality Centre and St Thomas Heart Centre, Chennai (April 2019 - Present).
  • Consultant & Assistant Professor, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai (June 2025 – Present).
  • Previously served as Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon at Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital, Chennai (Nov 2022 – June 2025).

Why Patients from Across South India Choose Dr. Thanga Saravanan

  • The only surgeon in Chennai performing the NUSS procedure — eliminating the need to travel to Bangalore, Hyderabad, or Mumbai for pectus repair.
  • Extensive experience in minimally invasive thoracic surgery with a dedicated VATS and pectus programme
  • Internationally trained with exposure to the latest NUSS techniques from leading thoracic centres
  • Patient-centric approach — detailed pre-operative counselling, family education, and comprehensive post-operative follow-up
  • Supported by a full multidisciplinary team including experienced anaesthesiologists, physiotherapists, and nursing staff

Award — Best Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgeon of the Year 2024

Dr. B. Thanga Saravanan is awarded as the best cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon of the year 2024. Cluster of Achievers Awards, Bangkok, Thailand — recognising outstanding achievement in cardiac and thoracic surgery across Asia.

Our Doctors

We merge two services consulting and brilliant client services for the patient healthcare. Used latest technology in hospital.
Dr.Thanga Saravanan

Dr.B.Thanga Saravanan

MS, Mch ,FACS,FICRS, Fellowship in VATS(THAILAND)

Consultant Cardiovascular and Thoracic surgeon

View Profile
dr.ramesh

Dr.A.N.Ramesh

MBBS.,M.D.(Gen. Med).,D.M.Cardio

Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist

View Profile
Best Doctor for NUSS Procedure in Chennai

FAQ About NUSS Procedure in Chennai

What is the NUSS procedure and what does it treat?

The NUSS Procedure (Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum — MIRPE) is a keyhole surgical technique that corrects Pectus Excavatum (sunken chest / funnel chest), a congenital deformity where the breastbone caves inward. A curved metal bar is inserted beneath the sternum through two small incisions and flipped to push the chest outward into a normal shape. The bar stays in place for 2–3 years and is then removed, leaving a permanently corrected chest.

 

Dr. B. Thanga Saravanan is the best — and only — doctor in Chennai performing the NUSS procedure for Pectus Excavatum. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), holds an MCh in Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery from Madras Medical College, and was awarded Best Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgeon of the Year 2024 in Bangkok. He practices at Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, and patients travel from across Tamil Nadu and South India for his expertise.

 

Yes. As of now, Dr. B. Thanga Saravanan is the only surgeon in Chennai performing the NUSS procedure for Pectus Excavatum. The NUSS procedure requires highly specialised thoracic surgical training, dedicated implant equipment (pectus bars), and thoracoscopic expertise — a combination that Dr. Thanga Saravanan uniquely offers in Chennai. Patients who previously had to travel to other metro cities for this surgery can now receive world-class pectus care right here in Chennai.

 

The total cost of the NUSS procedure in Chennai (bar insertion + hospital stay + anaesthesia + pre-op work-up) is approximately ₹3,00,000 to ₹5,50,000. Bar removal after 2–3 years is a separate day procedure costing approximately ₹60,000–₹1,20,000. Costs vary based on patient age, deformity severity, and the bar type used. Dr. Thanga Saravanan's team provides transparent, itemised cost estimates after consultation. Health insurance may cover this procedure as a congenital surgical correction.

 

The ideal age for the NUSS procedure is between 10 and 18 years, when the chest wall is still flexible and responds optimally to bar correction. However, Dr. Thanga Saravanan successfully performs NUSS procedure in adults up to age 30–35 with excellent results, though the procedure may be technically more demanding and the bar retention period slightly longer. There is no upper absolute age limit — each case is individually assessed.

 

Hospital stay after the NUSS procedure is typically 3–5 days. Pain is the primary concern in the first 1–2 weeks and is managed with epidural analgesia, oral medications, and physiotherapy. Most patients return to school or light activities within 3–4 weeks. Strenuous physical activity and contact sports are restricted for 6–8 weeks. The Nuss bar remains in place for 2–3 years, during which patients can live a normal, active life with minor activity restrictions.

 

Post-operative pain after the NUSS procedure is the most significant aspect of recovery and is taken seriously. Dr. Thanga Saravanan uses multimodal pain management including epidural analgesia or cryoanalgesia (nerve freezing), IV medications, and oral analgesics. Pain is typically well-controlled within 3–5 days and patients are comfortably discharged. Most patients find that the pain is manageable and the long-term benefit far outweighs the short-term discomfort.

 
 

The NUSS procedure is safe when performed by an experienced thoracic surgeon. Potential complications include bar displacement, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, wound infection, or bar allergy (rare). The risk of serious complications is low (<2%) in experienced hands. Dr. Thanga Saravanan's thoracoscopic-guided technique minimises the risk of injury to surrounding structures. All risks are discussed in detail during the pre-operative consultation.

 
 

The NUSS procedure in Chennai is exclusively performed by Dr. B. Thanga Saravanan at Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai. It is a well-equipped tertiary care hospital with dedicated thoracic operation theatres, HDU/ICU facilities, and an experienced anaesthesia and nursing team specialised in thoracic surgical care. To book a consultation, call +91 98949 25607 or email drthanga@icloud.com.

 
 
 

Yes, most private health insurance policies in India cover the NUSS procedure as it is a recognised surgical correction for a congenital chest wall deformity (Pectus Excavatum). Patients are advised to check their policy terms or contact the hospital's billing department. Pre-authorisation documents, including the diagnosis (Pectus Excavatum, ICD-10: Q67.6), surgical plan, and Haller Index from the CT scan, will be prepared by Dr. Thanga Saravanan's team to support insurance claims.

 
 
 
 

Book Your NUSS Procedure Consultation in Chennai

Don’t let Pectus Excavatum hold you back. Dr. B. Thanga Saravanan — Chennai’s only NUSS procedure specialist — is ready to guide you from diagnosis to a fully corrected chest. Book your consultation today.

Phone:  +91 97508 12233

Hospital:  St Thomas Heart Centre, Chennai

Speciality:  Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery — Pectus & VATS