Thoracic Insufficiency Syndrome Research
The Wyss/Campbell Center for Thoracic Insufficiency Syndrome conducts research in cooperation with the Division of Orthopedics; Pulmonary Medicine; General, Fetal and Thoracic Surgery; Radiology; the University of Pennsylvania's Medical Image Processing Group; and the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems at Drexel University.
Together, we are involved in numerous laboratory and clinical research activities focused on learning more about thoracic insufficiency syndrome, normal lung function in children and those affected by thoracic insufficiency syndrome, as well as the host of spine conditions that may lead to thoracic insufficiency syndrome.
Current thoracic insufficiency research projects include:
- A study of the effectiveness of current IV antibiotic doses — before, during and after VEPTR surgery — in providing adequate antibiotic levels in the tissues of our young patients.
- A study of lung function of 10 normal children to establish pilot data for the "Virtual Growing Child" project. This long-term effort will help to develop new metrics for pediatric device assessment.
- A study of the risk factors of thoracic insufficiency syndrome in children with Larsen’s syndrome.
- A collaborative study with the Chest Wall and Spine Deformity Research Foundation to detail the success and complication rates of VEPTR implantation, expansion and revision surgery at multiple hospitals across the U.S.
