ABSTRACT
@#Objective To investigate effectiveness and safety of right vertical infra-axillary thoracotomy (RVIAT) in surgical repair for intra-cardiac anomalies combined with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 34 patients who underwent intra-cardiac correction of congenital heart defects and PDA ligation simultaneously via RVIAT in our hospital from August 2014 to August 2019. There were 25 males and 9 females with an age range of 0.5-6.1 years. Results The length of incision was 3.0 (3.0, 3.5) cm. The operation time lasted 110.0 (90.0, 121.0) min. The cardiopulmonary bypass time was 45.5 (38.8, 63.5) min and the aortic cross-clamp time was 22.5 (14.8, 34.8) min. The bleeding volume was 20.0 (13.8, 20.0) mL. ICU stay time was 17.0 (5.5, 22.3) h, post-operative mechanical ventilation time was 4.0 (2.0, 6.0) h, total in-hospital cost was 46 (39, 51) thousand yuan. There was no mortality or reoperation during perioperative and follow-up period. Within the median follow-up of 636.0 days, 1 patient had minimal residual ventricular septal defect shunt while no new-onset scoliosis, funnel chest or pectus carinatum was detected. No bilateral mammary developmental asymmetry was observed in the female patients during the follow-up period. All the patients’ parents or guardians were satisfied with the right vertical infra-axillary aesthetic skin incision. Conclusion The minimally invasive repair for intra-cardiac heart defects combined with PDA via RVIAT is a safe and effective method with minimal invasiveness and excellent cosmesis.