Atrial septal defect closure through a right thoracotomy in adults

Abstract

Background: Minimally invasive approaches have become a feature of cardiac surgery. We compared the outcomes of atrial septal defect closure through either a right thoracotomy or a median sternotomy in adults. Methods: Patients who underwent atrial septal defect closure of ostium secundum defects through either a right thoracotomy ( n = 14) or a median sternotomy ( n = 7) were analyzed. The atrial septal defect was closed with cardiac arrest of the ascending aorta clamped under a cardiopulmonary bypass in both groups. Results: The preoperative characteristics of the two groups did not significantly differ. The durations of cardiopulmonary bypass and of cardiac arrest were significantly longer, but the amount of intraoperative blood loss was significantly lower, in the right thoracotomy than in the median sternotomy group. The early postoperative course did not significantly differ between the groups, whereas postoperative minor complications developed in three and two patients in the right thoracotomy and median sternotomy groups, respectively. Conclusion: The outcomes of atrial septal defect closure through a right thoracotomy and a median sternotomy were comparable, suggesting that right thoracotomy is a safe and effective alternative to median sternotomy for atrial septal defect closure in adults.