[Is minimal skin incision and partial sternotomy approach for congenital heart defects less invasive?; evaluation of SIRS on ventricular septal defect].

OBJECTIVES

Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) has been developed to offer patients the benefits of open heart operations with limited skin incision. But it is unclear whether this procedure is less invasive. We evaluate postoperative duration of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) on ventricular septal defect (VSD).

METHODS

From August 1997 to March 2000, 47 patients VSD underwent total repair by the minimal skin incision and lower partial median sternotomy (MICS group). We compared duration of SIRS between MICS and conventional method group (n = 14) and between early MICS and recent MICS group. We also evaluated the relationship between MICS and postoperative clinical course.

RESULTS

Duration of SIRS of MICS group were obviously shorter than that of conventional method group (p < 0.05). That of recent MICS group is also significantly shorter than that of early MICS group (p < 0.05). Operative time, bypass time, postoperative intubation time and length of skin incision were related duration of SIRS.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study indicate that MICS for VSD may be less invasive method.