Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36215223›Full record

ArticlePloS one2022

Nickel contamination after minimally-invasive repair of pectus excavatum persists after bar removal.

Caroline Fortmann, Thomas Goeen, Norman Zinne, Soeren Wiesner, Benno M Ure, Claus Petersen, Joachim F Kuebler

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
1.1field-weighted citation impact, top 23% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. [Adverse effects of metal exposure in pectus excavatum surgery].Anales del sistema sanitario de Navarra · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Caroline FortmannDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-2289-5330
Thomas GoeenInstitute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-8226-9227
Norman ZinneDepartment of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Soeren WiesnerInstitute for Biometry, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Benno M UreDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Claus PetersenDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Joachim F KueblerDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover · DEFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMinimally-invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) has been shown to be associated with high release of trace metals into patient's body. The aim of our study was to analyze the kinetics of metal contamination after MIRPE and after bar removal.

methodsWe prospectively assessed nickel and chromium changes in blood, urine, and local tissue in patients undergoing MIRPE with stainless-steel bar(s). Baseline samples were taken prior to surgery, further samples were taken at six defined time points until 30 months after bar removal. Clinical symptoms were evaluated at the time of every sample collection.

results28 patients were included (mean age 16.4 years). At four weeks after MIRPE and persisting up to bar removal, we found significantly elevated trace metal levels in blood and urine. Tissue nickel and chromium levels were significantly elevated at the time of bar removal. After bar removal, the concentration of trace metal in urine and the concentration of chromium in plasma decreased gradually. In contrast, nickel levels in blood further increased. Five patients showed irritative symptoms after MIRPE, all symptomatic patients had elevated metal levels.

conclusionsFollowing MIRPE, we found a rapid systemic increase of nickel and chromium. Our data indicate that trace metal release could cause irritative symptoms. The prolonged elevated systemic nickel levels beyond bar removal necessitate further investigations of the long-term side effects of MIRPE.

Indexed as

Funnel ChestAdolescentChromiumHumansMinimally Invasive Surgical ProceduresNickelRetrospective StudiesStainless SteelChromiumNickelStainless Steel

Identifiers

PMID36215223
PMCPMC9550087
OpenAlexW4304092535

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.