Intercostal Nerve Cryoablation Versus Epidural Analgesia for Nuss Repair of Pectus Excavatum

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients undergoing the minimal invasive Nuss procedure for surgical repair of pectus excavatum. * Young patients (12-24 years of age) according to the definition used by the World Health Organization. This cut-off point is chosen to create a more homogenous patient sample, as the thoracic cage is fully matured by the age of 24, in size and density, which will have an effect on postoperative pain. Exclusion Criteria: * A chest wall deformity other than pectus excavatum; * Opioid use in the 3 months prior to surgery; * Pain syndrome (e.g., fibromyalgia) or neuropathic pain prior to surgical repair of pectus excavatum; * Connective tissue disease (e.g., Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome); * Previous thoracic surgery or pectus excavatum repair; * Contraindication for intercostal nerve cryoablation or thoracic epidural analgesia (e.g., patient refusal, infection at the site of cannulation, uncontrolled systemic infection, bleeding diathesis, increased intracranial pressure, mechanical spine obstruction); * Psychiatric disease currently receiving treatment; * Not mastering the Dutch language; * Participation in another clinical trial that may interfere with the current trial.