Introduction and objectivesLower ministernotomy has been widely used, although it has been seldom used for the repair of congenital heart defects in our country. The aim of our study is to present the surgical and cosmetic results as well as satisfaction of patients with congenital heart disease undergoing lower mini-sternotomy. MethodsFrom January 2010 through September 2013, 100 patients (60 female and 23 adults) with a median age of 4 years (range 0.3 to 70.1) underwent reparative cardiac surgery through lower mini-sternotomy. Operative techniques used were OS ASD closure (n=57), VSD closure (n=23), AV canal repair (n=9), SV ASD closure (n=5), OS ASD closure and tricuspid valve ring annuloplasty (n=4), mitral valve replacement (n=1) and cor triatriatum repair (n=1). Two adult patients were converted to median sternotomy and were excluded from the study. Cosmetic results and patients’ satisfaction were evaluated with the PSAS Scar Scales and a separate questionnaire. In-hospital and follow-up clinical and echocardiographic data were also recorded looking at complications and residual defects. ResultsThere have been no deaths, reoperation for bleeding, wound complications or other major morbidities in our series. No significant residual defects are shown at most recent follow-up echocardiogram (median 0.96 years). Systematic evaluation of the scar showed excellent scores. Moreover, 52 patients (82.5%) gave the maximum score possible to their overall surgical outcome. DiscussionLower mini-sternotomy allows for safe and accurate repair of selected congenital heart defects. This approach also provides excellent cosmetic outcomes and patients’ satisfaction and could be of choice in this population.