Center for Thoracic Insufficiency Syndrome Hosts Annual Family Reunion

On Sunday, May 20, the Center for Thoracic Insufficiency Syndrome hosted the annual TIS Family Reunion. The family-friendly event served as an opportunity for patients and families to reconnect with clinicians, including Robert Campbell, MD, Director of CHOP’s Center for Thoracic Insufficiency Syndrome and Patrick J. Cahill, MD, Associate Director of CHOP CTIS and attending physician in the Division of Orthopaedics. Families also had a chance to meet others who share a common diagnosis.

The event, which took place at the Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care on the Raymond G. Perelman Campus, included face painting, food, games, music and more. Kids of all ages were treated to a visit by the Philly Phanatic.

CHOP continues to be a world leader in TIS care. The center is one of the Hospital’s frontier programs, a trailblazing group of initiatives pioneering new advances in children’s health by conducting visionary research that translates into cutting-edge clinical care. Since its inception in 2009, pediatric orthopaedists, general surgeons, pulmonologists and advanced practice nurses have evaluated more than 300 children with TIS.

TIS is a complex condition that involves chest wall deformities that affect normal breathing and lung growth. In most cases, children with TIS are also born with spinal disorders, such as scoliosis (abnormal spine curvature).

The most common treatment is the vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR), a device designed by Dr. Campbell in 1988. The VEPTR is a curved metal rod that is surgically attached to the child’s ribs, spines or pelvis to straighten the spine and separate the ribs so the child’s lungs can grow and expand as the child grows. To date, it is the only FDA-approved device to treat children with TIS.

Read and watch more from the day on CBS3.