ABSTRACT
Introduction : In our institute, we have used the pedicled right atrial wall flap as an alternative to a free patch to close Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) in a series of patients. We hereby, report its results. Methods : Between January, 2016 and September, 2018, 24 patients (mean age 25.2 ± 12.43 years; range 5 years to 51 years), underwent closure of ASD with pedicled right atrial wall flap. All the patients who underwent this procedure had ostium secundum type of ASD without any other Intra-cardiac anomaly. Results : The intraoperative and postoperative period was uneventful in all the patients. The mean aortic crossclamp (X- clamp) time was 13 ± 2.99 minutes (Mean ± SD) and the mean duration for Cardiopulmonary Bypass (CPB) was 46.5 ± 10.23 minutes (Mean ± SD). There was no mortality. All the patients were discharged either on 3rd or 4th postoperative day. The pre-discharge and latest follow-up Transthoracic Echocardiographic Evaluation was found satisfactory in all the patients. None of them revealed any residual shunt, peri-flap Thrombosis, Flap dehiscence or shrinkage, or Cardiac Dysfunction. Conclusions : The Pedicled Right Atrial Wall Flap can be safely used as an alternative for pericardial patch for ASD closure. It is a novel technique with several advantages.