Dr. Klaus Schaarschmidt

Professor Schaarschmidt corrected my extra large asymmetric Pectus Carinatum and small Pectus Excavatum with „Reverse-Nuss-Operation" within a period of two years and two operations.

The result is physically and aesthetically extremely satisfying. His professionalism, exceptional skill, many years of extensive experience and a very high standard of quality makes him, in my opinion, to a top leading surgeons for this procedure.

I can highly recommend him

Tino Sand
Switzerland

If you are looking for the best professional for a Nuss procedure with correction of rib flare, he is by far the best one in the world in terms ox experience and results. In this hospital they are managing a volume of Pectus Excavatum and Carinatum per year (between 200 and 300 cases per year), far away from the number of cases of any other hospital in the world. This doctos is highly skilled and will repair your rib flare without any extra incision, using the same one done for the bar implant/removal. It is a key point, because most surgeons do not repair rib flaring. Furthermore, the look of the scars is pretty much better with this surgeon. He does not leave any dent at all. I had the first surgery (bar implant) with another doctor in Uk, and the second surgery (bar removal and rib repair) here in Berlin with Dr. Klaus. The result is muuuch better in the second case, they know much more about. Regarding the hospital, they do not push you out, being able to stay all the days you need. The hospital is brand new, comfortable and well equipped, the nurses awesome and supportive. Do not look for anymore, it is the place and this is the Doctor, trust me.

Coming up for bar removal in July 2017, I thought it apt to finally rate the work of my surgeon, Professor Klaus Schaarschmidt.

Age 22 was the first time in my life that I was able to afford the surgery to correct my PC. Once I was assured of funds, I had the tricky task of choosing a surgeon. My main options were Dr Ivan Schewitz in my home country South Africa, Dr Dawn Jaroszewski in Arizona, USA, and Professor Schaar in Berlin, Germany.

Ultimately I wanted to have the best surgeon. However in my mind there was nothing between Schaar and Dr J, they were both the best and so it became a question of travel time in case of complications or emergency. Berlin is much closer to South Africa and so I was happy to book a surgery date with the much acclaimed and pioneering Professor Schaar. I must say that in terms of setting and scenery, Berlin was also a far more attractive option. The hospital and the grounds of Helios are quite something! And the cafeteria is loaded with healthy and very well prepared food. I can't wait to go back just to have 5/6 days of solid eating in the cafeteria.

Anyways, my surgery went as planned and my recovery from the get go was pretty strong. I had the physiotherapists quite impressed, especially Sven.

9 days after surgery I was released from Helios and continued to tour Germany and the rest of Europe for a further 3 weeks before heading home. I was off all painkillers by the time I left hospital and so I managed to have a really nice vacation with sightseeing after my surgery.

Recovery continued very well up until the 4 month mark, when I managed to have a car accident with 2 other cars and a wall at 80km/h. Front and side airbags popped. The bar and stabilizers didn't move one bit, and I felt 100%. After about 48 hours I could feel irritation and inflammation around the stabilizers which lasted for a good 2 months. I was very impressed with how secure the bar felt!

Now I await bar removal in July 2017. I thought about leaving it in for another year as I don't even realize the bar is there, but I think 2 years is sufficient for PC repair.

Overall I had an excellent experience with Professor Schaar and his staff at Helios. I hope everything goes smoothly at bar removal so that I can end my pectus journey on a high note, as we all deserve!

I developed PE in my early teens and lived with the symptoms of shortness of breath, fatigability, constant pressure discomfort, chest and back pain felt. In 2016 at age 44, I felt certain that the symptoms were getting worse and started looking more seriously at having my PE repaired.

I did a lot of research and ended up looking overseas for a surgeon than I could be confident I would have good outcome with.

I contacted Professor Schaarscmidt, who was very helpful. He described my condition as very severe right asymmetric PE, with right sternal torsion, with upper PE and rib flaring on both sides.

I then had a CT scan which confirmed that I had a Haller index of 8.1, with only 2.3 cm between my sternum and my spine, the CT also revealed right ventricular compression and right aortal compression. The lung function tests were 65% of the norm.

In spite of my age and the severity of my PE, Prof Schaarscmidt was very confident that he could correct my PE and the rib flare. At the time, he had done over 1,650 Nuss repairs in patients aged 12 to 58 years of age, 120-150 Nuss procedures a year. I had confidence that I was putting myself in very capable and experienced hands.

I flew to Berlin in late November 2016 and had a few days sightseeing before going to the Helios Clinic in Buch about 40 minutes’ drive north east of the city. I met Prof Schaarscmidt the day before my surgery and after looking at my chest we discussed the surgery and expected positive outcome.

The surgery was successful and I had no complications. It took me a few days to get a look at my chest, but when I finally did I was very pleased with the outcome. Both the PE and rib flare were completely gone. The recovery was not easy, especially if you are older and you have to push yourself to get mobile again. The more mobile you are the faster the recovery. Professor Schaarschmidt emphasized this every time he visited, which helped me to push to get mobile and make use of my new lung space!

I began physio which consisted of yoga, stretches and aerobic exercise on the exercise bike. I also walked around the hospital as much as possible and kept up with the three breathing exercise devices they give you.

The doctors, nurses and physiotherapist in particular were very familiar with the Nuss procedure recovery process. I believe this was a key benefit to compliment Prof Schaarschmidts’ experience.

At all times I found Prof Schaarscmidt to be a very kind, caring and professional surgeon and I felt that I could have absolute confidence in his expertise. I had 12 days recovering in the Helios clinic before flying back to Australia.

Considering how severe my PE was, I have come out with a result that is close to perfect.
It is so easy to breathe now that it feels almost as if another person is breathing for me. I can no longer feel my heart beating through my ribs and neck.

After three months post-surgery, I am walking, jogging and weight training again. While my body is still adjusting, I feel like the surgery has given me a new lease on life; my only regret being not having the PE repair sooner.

It was an absolute pleasure dealing with Prof Schaarschmidt. I can without hesitation recommend him as a highly skilled and experienced surgeon, who has a very kind and approachable manner.

I am 35 years old and I just had by PE repaired 3 months ago by the excellent Prof. Klaus Schaarschmidt at Helios Klinikum Berlin-Buch.
I had a medium sized PE but have been suffering from poor posture/back pain, muscle weakness around the chest area, unexplained tachycardia and the appearance of a weird looking hole in my chest.
I have been wanting to make it go away since I was 25 years old, but I was told by many doctors that the procedure was too complex and that I should live with it.
At 35, my symptoms seemed to have been getting worst, I was committed at this point to proceed with fixing my PE via the Nuss Procedure.
After researching all over the internet for the best doctor for performing this procedure, I was convinced that Prof. Schaarschmidt was the best choice.

I contacted Prof Schaarschmidt and after a few mails, I booked my operation at the Helios Klinikum Berlion-Buch.
I arrived at the hospital a day before my surgery and had my preliminary tests. I was pleasantly surprised at the level of knowledge and professionalism in all doctors that I met that day.
I also got a chance to meet with Prof Schaarschmidt. He had a quick look at my chest and we discussed about the surgery. Although the meeting was short, I was relieved since I was a bit worried having only talked to him via emails. He seemed really kind and caring and left me with a very positive impression

The next day, the day of the operation, the nurses took me to the operation room shortly after waking up. The anaesthetist put the anaesthetics and a surgeon covered me with a wonderful warm blanket which was the last thing I remember.
The surgery lasted around 4 hours and it was a success!. I woke up feeling weirdly uncomfortable with 2 bars along my chest and a lot of tubes going in and out of me. It is hard to describe the feeling, it wasnt so much the pain, it sort of felt like a boa constrictor was wrapped around me really tight and felt very difficult expanding my upper chest to breathe. But, my chest looked completely dent free!! It did look a bit too flat at that point but thankfully it looks alot more natural today.
I stayed in the intensive care unit for 5 days. During this period I had a lot of pain, most of it was actually coming from one of the large suction tubes that where inserted along my back rather than from the surgery itself. I was lying on this tube all this time which was compressing against my back muscles.

On the 5th day, the suction tubes were removed, which was a big relieve, and I was moved the the normal ward. From there on the pain was alot more manageable and I got better every day. The nurses where great, they where very experienced with patients having this type of surgery.
There was a physiotherapist visiting me daily, and showing/helping me do breathing excercises, walking, bicycling and some stretching exercises

I am very pleased with my decision to have this surgery with Prof Shaarschmidt. I had a very pleasant experience throughout my stay at the Helios hospital. All staff where super professional and knew what they where doing.
I am very pleased with the results, my chest now looks great! and my posture/back and heart problems seem to have subsided.

Thank you Prof Schaarschmidt!!



Nuss Procedure with Prof Schaarschmidt