title: Transaxillary minithoracotomy in intrathoracic surgery for 316 infants and children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To introduce the technique of intrathoracic surgery performed through vertical transaxillary minithoracotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  From March 1989 to March 2001, 316 patients underwent intrathoracic surgery through a vertical transaxillary minithoracotomy. 285 patients suffered from patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), 10 congenital esophageal atresia, 8 congenital pulmonary cysts, 6 congenital emphysema, 1 pulmonary sequestration, 5 mediastinal tumor, and 1 eventration of the diaphragm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the patients were successfully treated under satisfactory exposure. No operative mortality and severe postoperative complications occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intrathoracic surgery performed through a vertical transaxillary minithoracotomy appears to be less invasive, and is a simple, safe, cosmetically acceptable and efficient approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical College, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China. shu_qiang@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.forename: Zewei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiongkai
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ru
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jiangen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Zili
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001365:Axilla; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003560:Cysts / Q000151:congenital / Q000601:surgery; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000601:surgery; D004933:Esophageal Atresia / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000151:congenital / Q000601:surgery; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*