Repair of partial atrioventricular septal defect through a minimal right vertical infra-axillary thoracotomy.
OBJECTIVE
To report a new minimally invasive and cosmetic approach for partial atrioventricular septal defect (PAVSD) repair.


METHODS
From November 1997 to January 2000, six patients with a mean age of 19.2 +/- 7.7 years underwent minimal right vertical infra-axillary thoracotomy for PAVSD repair. Left atrioventricular (AV) valve regurgitation was assessed on the beating heart before and after valvuloplasty. Commissuroplasty of the left AV valve and atrial septum repair were done in all patients.


RESULTS
There were no operative or late mortality, and no morbidity directly related to the thoracotomy approach. The average length of the incision was 8.3 +/- 131 cm. The arrest times averaged 32.8 +/- 8.3 minutes, and the cardiopulmonary bypass times averaged 66.0 +/- 9.0 minutes. One patient had a mild to moderate left AV valve regurgitation postoperatively. All patients were free of symptoms during the follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
The minimal right vertical infra-axillary thoracotomy is a safer, more cosmetic and less invasive approach than median sternotomy for the repair of PAVSD.
Yang
Xiubin
X
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Cardiovascular Institute and Fu Wai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Peking, Beijing, China. xiubinyang@yahoo.com
Wang
Dongjin
D
Wu
Qingyu
Q
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001365:Axilla; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing