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 (VIAT) for PAVSD repair. Left atrioventricular (AV) valve regurgitation was tested 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 was no operative or late mortality, and no morbidity directly related to the thoracotomy approach. The average length of the incision was 8.3 +/- 1.3 cm. The arrest times averaged 32.8 +/- 8.3 minutes, and the cardiopulmonary bypass times averaged 66.0 +/- 9.0 minutes. One patient had mild-to-moderate left AV valve regurgitation postoperatively. All patients were free of symptoms during follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Minimal right VIAT is a safe, more cosmetic, and less invasive approach than median sternotomy for the repair of PAVSD.