Dr. Klaus Schaarschmidt

After having a recurrence of pectus after a failed Ravitch surgery in my home country 4 years ago, I decided to get surgery again and this time I wanted the greatest expert in Pectus excavatum to perform it. After some years of research I decided to do it in Berlin by Prof. Schaarschmidt.. Although it's only been a week since the surgery I can say I am really satisfied with the cosmetic result, but the most important part is that now my lungs have more space to work properly and improve my pulmonary capacity, which will improve my health immensely. After the surgery during the first days it can be really painful and uncomfortable, but every day I feel better and better and it has only been a week. I completely recommend this surgeon.

7 years ago I started developing a chronic cough. I also started having each winter pneumonia. My pulmonary physician prescribed several treatments, even for asthma, but nothing worked. One day I was really desperate because of the cough, so I searched online and found out that chronic cough often is a symptom of PE, which I have.
I knew I couldn't make the surgery in my country, so I made some research. Prof. Schaarschmidt had great reviews and a lots of experience, also with patients from abroad. So I contacted him and next morning I got a very friendly and detailed answer from him.

The surgery went as planned and I had huge pain only the first night. I started with physio the second day and after 14 days I could fly home.
I continued with physio and from there everything went better and better.
My chronic cough is gone, which was the main reason for the surgery, and I am also happy that my hole in the chest is gone. The bars don't disturb me and I can do whatever I like.
Overall I have to say, this decision was a life changing experience!

I had botched op. in Australia causing detached ribs/ floating sternum flail-chest, pardoxic breathing.
bars in for 2 years2months - out mid 2015
Now i have a stable chest, and rarely think about the structural damage i had before Dr Schaarshmidt took-on my case. Now i Ride a Heavy motorcycle, body surf, and have taken up Roller Derby! - which involves a lot of tumbles - at which time i never even think of my chest!
See my full report at the other pectus dedicated website ;,....
http://www.pectusinfo.com/board/viewthread.php?tid=8337

I had my first surgery in 2012 where I got one bar in my chest. At this time I was 24 years old and had a Haller-Index of 7,9. So I was really missing a lot of space in my chest for my lungs and heart. Over the years the impact of PE to my body and fitness increased every year, I was weak-minded if I should take the risks of a surgery to hopefully get better afterwards or not. That process took me 2 to 3 years then I was strong-willed to do it. The first meetup with Dr. Schaarschmidt was very informative he explained the whole process from inserting the bars over the regeneration process. I had a good feeling that he is absolutly the right man. Also the hospital is very modern and professional, I never had a bad feeling about doctors, nurses or the used equipment and tools.
After the first surgery it will took a while to regenerate and to become accustomed to the bar in your chest. But I recognized immediately that I was able to breath as free as never could before. The whole Team at Klinikum Berlin-Buch did a extraordinary good job the whole time I spent there. Over the first weeks and month I felt better and better. In my case I was able to go to work (office job) after 5 weeks and after 6 weeks I stopped eating painkillers, was not the best idea to stop them so fast but worked for me. Doing sports was way more fun and helped a lot to get fit.
Over the years sometimes I recognized that there is a bar in my chest, but I had no pain and didn't need any painkillers. That time was great I could run as I couldn't never before, I ran my first half marathon in that time. So I was very happy and had a whole new quality of life. After 4 years I called Dr. Schaarschmidt office to make an appointment for the second surgery to get the bars out. A few weeks later I checked-in at Klinukum Berlin-Buch again and got the bar removed, after the second surgery the regeneration time was shorter and I were able to go to work (still a office job) after two weeks. The best thing is that it feels like I could now breath more free than with the bar and overall body feeling is way better after the bar is removed, so I was happily surprised that it is now better with the bar and the chest is stable enough to stay in its form and not falling back to PE. At the bar removel he also fixed some litte cosmetic issues and after the second surgery is also looks very normal.
After all I am happy that I decided to get rid of PE with the Nuss procedurce well done by Dr. Schaarschmidt and his great Team.