title: The correction of congenital heart defects with less invasive approaches.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The minimally and less invasive approaches for the surgical treatment of different heart diseases are rapidly increasing because of their cosmetic and recovery-related advantages. Presented here are the results of less invasive surgery in 51 patients with congenital heart defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June 1996 to January 1999, we used less invasive techniques for the correction of congenital heart defects in 51 patients. In 32 patients, we performed right anterolateral thoracotomy (6-13 cm), and on the other 19 patients, we used the partial inferior sternotomy (4-7 cm). The ascending aorta and the caval veins were cannulated in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following congenital heart defects were corrected: ostium secundum atrial septal defect (n = 35), sinus venosus atrial septal defect with partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (n = 7), ventricular septal defect (n = 7), tetralogy of Fallot (n = 1), and cor triatriatum sinistrum (n = 1). The average age of the patients was 15 years old ranging from 2 months to 48 years and the average weight 39.6 kg (range 3.8-86 kg). The patients were removed from artificial respiratory support on average 8 hours (range 1-48 hours) after surgery and left the hospital after 7 days (range 2-10 days). In 16 patients, blood transfusions were required, an average 5.7 ml/kg BW (range 1.45-19.75 ml/kg BW). The postoperative course was uneventful in all patients. Follow-up (range 3-33 months, mean 17.5 months) was complete with no late deaths or residual defects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The right anterolateral thoracotomy and the partial inferior sternotomy provide a safe approach for the correction of certain congenital heart defects. These techniques enable operative correction without any additional risks being incurred and can be performed with standard instruments and cannulation. Additional approaches for extracorporeal circulation are unnecessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin, Germany. mbauer@dhzb.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alexi-Meskishvilli
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nakic
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Redzepagic
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hetzer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012307:Risk Factors; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome