• Zeng-Shan Ma, Jian-Tang Wang, Ming-Feng Dong, Shou-Dong Chai, and Le-Xin Wang.
• Department of Cardiac Surgery, Liaocheng People's Hospital of Taishan Medical University, Liaocheng, China.
• Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2012 Dec 1; 42 (6): 976-9.

ObjectivesTo investigate the feasibility and safety of totally thoracoscopic repair of ventricular septal defects (VSDs) in young children.MethodsVSD repair was conducted in 36 children (21 boys, mean age 2.5 ± 1.7 years, range 2-5, mean body weight 17.4 ± 2.1 kg) by a totally thoracoscopic approach. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was achieved peripherally. Through three port incisions in the right chest wall, pericardiotomy, atriotomy and VSD repair were performed under the direct view of a thoracoscopy. Forty patients who were treated with a traditional VSD closure through a sternotomy were selected as a control group.ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference in age, sex or types of VSD between the study and control group (P > 0.05). In the study group, CPB was established through femoral vessels in 28 (77.8%) patients, and through both the right internal jugular vein and the femoral vessels in eight (22.2%). The aortic cross-clamp time (32 ± 6 vs 29 ± 3 min, P = 0.06) and CPB time (46 ± 11 vs 48 ± 4 min, P = 0.107) were similar between the study and control groups. However, the total operation time, mechanical ventilation time, intensive care stay and overall hospital stay in the study group were shorter than in the control group (P < 0.05). Transthoracic echocardiography 3 months after the operation showed no residual shunt in the ventricular septum.ConclusionsThoracoscopic closure of VSDs in young children appears feasible and safe.

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