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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
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Technique and Patient Selection Criteria of Right Anterior Mini-Thoracotomy for Minimal Access Aortic Valve Replacement
Published on: March 26, 2018
Programme-building aspects with introducing minimally invasive axillary thoracotomy repairs in children
Kamran Musayev1, Kamran Ahmadov1, Ali Dodge-Khatami2
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Merkezi Klinika, Azerbaijan.
Cardiology in the Young
|July 9, 2026
Summary
Minimally invasive vertical right axillary thoracotomy is a safe and effective alternative for pediatric congenital heart defect (CHD) repair. Comprehensive team education is crucial for successful outcomes with this approach.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Techniques
- Congenital Heart Disease
Background:
- Vertical right axillary thoracotomy offers cosmetic and functional advantages over median sternotomy for pediatric congenital heart defect (CHD) repair.
- Establishing new surgical programs requires careful planning and execution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the implementation and outcomes of a minimally invasive vertical right axillary thoracotomy program for pediatric CHD repair.
- To outline the multidisciplinary team-building protocol and challenges encountered.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 152 pediatric patients undergoing CHD repair via vertical right axillary thoracotomy (April 2022 - December 2025).
- Pre-commencement multidisciplinary team training involving surgical site visits, expert exchange, and multimedia education.
Main Results:
- Median patient age: 4.9 years; median weight: 16 kg.
- Short median ICU (1.2 days) and hospital stays (4.6 days).
- Zero in-hospital deaths, conversions to median sternotomy, late deaths, or reoperations during a median 16-month follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Vertical right axillary thoracotomy is a safe and viable approach for diverse pediatric CHDs.
- Thorough team education is essential for achieving excellent outcomes rapidly.
- This technique provides superior cosmetic results and is a strong alternative to median sternotomy.
