Does a Vacuum Bell Work for Your Child’s Pectus Excavatum? Several Recent International Studies Provide the Answer

Introduction

• “Doctor, does this vacuum bell really work?”

• “Should we go straight to surgery?”

• “I’ve seen people online say the vacuum bell is a waste of money…”

Among parents, the question asked most often is not “how to use it,” but “does it work at all?”

The vacuum bell, as a key non‑surgical correction device for Pectus Excavatum, has been used internationally for more than two decades. But is it really effective? How good are the results? Who is a suitable candidate? What research data is available?

This article summarizes several representative international clinical studies from recent years, using plain language to help you understand the real effects of the vacuum bell, the target population, and the core questions parents care about.

1. What Is a Vacuum Bell?

The vacuum bell (often called the Vacuum Bell in clinical settings) is a non‑surgical corrective device that uses negative pressure to suck and lift the sunken sternum outward.

How it works:

• Place the bell over the depressed chest area.

• Use a manual or electric pump to remove air, creating local negative pressure.

• Under negative pressure, the sunken sternum and costal cartilages are lifted outward.

• With long‑term, regular use, the chest wall shape improves.

Difference from surgery:

2. What Do International Studies Say? Key Data

Study 1: German Multi‑Center Long‑Term Follow‑up (2019)

Source: European Journal of Pediatric Surgery

Sample: Over 200 children with Pectus Excavatum who used a vacuum bell

Key findings:

• About 70% of children who used the vacuum bell for more than 2 years showed significant improvement.

• The degree of improvement was positively correlated with duration of use, initial depression depth, and age.

• Children who started before 12 years of age had better results than those who started after 12.

 Parent takeaway: The vacuum bell is not a “use a few times and see results” tool. It requires long‑term commitment. Younger children with more plastic chest walls generally respond better.

Study 2: US Comparative Study – Vacuum Bell vs. Watchful Waiting (2020)

Source: Journal of Pediatric Surgery

Design: Children with pectus excavatum were divided into two groups – one used the vacuum bell, the other only observation without intervention.

Key findings:

• The improvement rate in Haller index was 3.2 times higher in the vacuum bell group than in the control group.

• Self‑rated body image scores improved significantly in the vacuum bell group.

• In the control group, about 40% of children showed worsening of the depression during follow‑up.

Parent takeaway: “Wait and see” is not the best option. Active intervention with a vacuum bell is more effective at improving chest shape and the child’s psychological state than simply waiting.

Study 3: Asian Population Adaptability Study (2021, Japan)

Source: Pediatric Surgery International

Focus: Applicability and effectiveness of the vacuum bell in Asian children

Key findings:

• Although Asian children have different chest wall characteristics than European/American children, the vacuum bell is equally effective.

• Best results were seen in mild to moderate pectus excavatum (Haller index ≤ 3.5).