• A R Tiete, J S Sachweh, R Kozlik-Feldmann, H Netz, B Reichart, and S H Daebritz.
• Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital Grosshadern, Munich, Germany. atiete@hch.med.uni-muenchen.de
• Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2002 Oct 1; 50 (5): 271-5.

BackgroundIn selected cases, minimally-invasive approaches are favoured for the correction of congenital heart defects with regard to better cosmetic results.MethodsBetween July 1999 and April 2001, 25 children (9 male; mean age 5.8 +/- 4.1 years; mean weight 19.6 +/- 12.6 kg) were operated on using minimally invasive approaches. Diagnoses were: ASD (n = 19), VSD (n = 2), ostium primum defect (n = 3) and Tetralogy of Fallot (n = 1). Female patients with ASD underwent a limited right anterolateral thoracotomy. A ministernotomy was chosen in male patients, in patients under 6 months of age, and in patients with malformations other than ASD. Cannulation was always performed via the chest incision.ResultsThere were no perioperative complications. Mean operation time was 3.23 +/- 0.89 h. Twelve patients were extubated immediately after surgery, mean ventilation time in the others was 12.1 +/- 11.7 h. Mean ICU stay and hospital stay were 1.5 +/- 0.75 days and 8.3 +/- 2.2 days, respectively. Follow-up (mean 4.8 +/- 4.6 months) was uneventful.ConclusionsIntracardiac repair of some congenital heart defects can be performed safely and effectively via minimally-invasive approaches. Indications are expanding towards more complex defects. Exposure for precise repair is good, additional incisions can be avoided, and cosmetic results have been excellent.

23 keywords...

hide…