Repair of partial XXXX through a minimal right vertical infra-axillary thoracotomy.

@entity1 @entity338 @entity955 @entity474
OBJECTIVE: To report a new minimally invasive and cosmetic approach for partial @entity474 (PAVSD) repair. METHODS: From November 1997 to January 2000, six @entity1 with a mean age of 19.2 +/- 7.7 years underwent minimal right vertical infra-axillary thoracotomy (VIAT) for PAVSD repair. Left @entity338 was tested on the beating heart before and after valvuloplasty. Commissuroplasty of the left AV valve and @entity955 repair were done in all @entity1 . RESULTS: There was no operative or late mortality, and no morbidity directly related to the thoracotomy approach. The average length of the incision was 8.3 +/- 1.3 cm. The arrest times averaged 32.8 +/- 8.3 minutes, and the cardiopulmonary bypass times averaged 66.0 +/- 9.0 minutes. One @entity1 had mild-to-moderate left AV valve regurgitation postoperatively. All @entity1 were free of symptoms during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Minimal right VIAT is a safe, more cosmetic, and less invasive approach than median sternotomy for the repair of PAVSD.
