Right anterolateral thoracotomy for repair of atrial septal defect.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

To procure a cosmetic incision in female patients, we performed operation on atrial septal defects through a right anterolateral thoracotomy.

METHODS:

From 1984 to 1994, 80 female patients with a mean age of 24 +/- 13 years (ranging from 12 to 62 years) underwent right anterolateral thoracotomy for atrial septal defect repairs. Defects repaired included 62 ostium secundum, 12 sinus venosus, 2 low septal defect, and 4 ostium primum. The right iliac external artery was systematically used for arterial cannulation, through a cosmetic incision. Repairs were always performed under fibrillation, except in the 4 ostium primum defects, for which cardioplegia was used.

RESULTS:

There was no operative or late mortality, and no morbidity directly related to the thoracotomy approach.

CONCLUSIONS:

The right thoracotomy incision appears to be a safe and effective alternative to median sternotomy for repair of atrial septal defects.

• Authors: J M Grinda, T A Folliguet, P Dervanian, L Macé, B Legault, J Y Neveux
• Journal: The Annals of thoracic surgery (Ann Thorac Surg) Vol. 62 Issue 1 Pg. 175-8 (Jul 1996) ISSN: 0003-4975 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 8678639 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Breast
• Female
• Heart Septal Defects, Atrial (surgery)
• Humans
• Intraoperative Care
• Pericardium (transplantation)
• Postoperative Complications (epidemiology)
• Sternum (surgery)
• Thoracotomy (methods)