Thoracic Institute
Titanium Rib Program
Patient Consultation Guidelines
The following is a guide for families and physicians seeking a consultation at the Thoracic Institute for possible treatment with the Vertical Expandable Prosthetic Titanium Rib (VEPTR).
Prior to scheduling the 2-day Titanium Rib evaluation, our office must receive the following items:
- A referral letter stating the purpose of the consult from the family and/or physician
- A History and Physical (H&P), or last clinic note, and growth chart
- AP and lateral x-rays of the chest, including the spine, on CD or film
Once the aforementioned items are received, a member of our multi-specialty team will review the information and determine if the child is a possible candidate for treatment with the VEPTR device. If it is determined that the patient is a possible candidate, a member of the Thoracic Institute will contact the family and/or referring physician to inform them of the decision and arrangements will be made to schedule the two day evaluation. If, after reviewing the information, it is determined that the patient is not a possible candidate, the family and/or referring physician will be notified and recommendations will be made, as necessary.
As you may know, we treat very difficult, complex and rare syndromes of chest wall and spine deformities and a final decision cannot be made until our physicians have personally evaluated each child. We try to extend invitations for a full two-day evaluation only if we feel there is a reasonable chance we might be of some help. However, an invitation does not guarantee inclusion in the program.
Please see the Frequently Asked Questions for more information or contact Hope Treviño, administrative assistant, at hope.trevino@christushealth.org.
