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Can Right Infra-Axillary Vertical Thoracotomy Make a Big Difference in Surgical Technique Preference?
Atakan Atalay1, Mustafa Yilmaz1, Başak Soran Turkcan1
1Department of Congenital Heart Surgery, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Heart, Lung & Circulation
|July 23, 2022
Summary
Right infra-axillary vertical thoracotomy (RIAVT) offers a safe and effective alternative for congenital heart defect surgery. This minimally invasive approach yields excellent functional and cosmetic outcomes, comparable to traditional methods.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
Background:
- Minimally invasive techniques are increasingly adopted for congenital heart disease surgery.
- Right infra-axillary vertical thoracotomy (RIAVT) is one such emerging technique.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the postoperative morbidity and cosmetic results of RIAVT.
- To compare RIAVT outcomes with existing literature.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 59 patients undergoing cardiac surgery via RIAVT (2019-2021).
- Data collected included preoperative echocardiography, intraoperative details, and postoperative morbidity.
- Surgical incision length was measured for cosmetic assessment.
Main Results:
- 59 patients (76% female) underwent RIAVT, with incision lengths of 4-5 cm.
- Common procedures included secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) repair (47 patients).
- Various other congenital heart anomalies were successfully treated.
Conclusions:
- RIAVT is a viable surgical alternative to median sternotomy for selected congenital heart conditions.
- The technique demonstrates safety, excellent functional, and cosmetic results in the long term.
