Abstract： Objective To assess the long-term effects on cardiac function after operative correction of pectus excavatum(PE)in children.Methods Fomy-one children with PE underwent M-mode echocardiogram before and 2-8 years after the corrective operation.Forty-one children whose gender,age and body weight matched with these patients were served as control.Results Preoperative ejection fraction(EF)and velocity of circumferential fibet shortening(MVCF)were significantly lower than those of the controls (P＜0.01),whereas stroke volume(SV)and fractional shortening of the minor semi-axis(FS)showed no difference(P＞0.05).Postoperatively,there was no change in FS,but EF,MVCF and SV increased significantly(P＜0.05)and were comparable to those of the controls(P＞0.05).Conclusions Cardiac function in patients with PE was compromised.It can he gradually restored to normal after correction.