Minimal incision cardiac surgery for atrial septal defects

Minimal incision cardiac surgery for atrial septal defects was performed in 4 consecutive patients. No special devices or new techniques were used to perform this operation. Clamping of the aorta and snaring of the inferior vena cava could be simply omitted from this procedure. A limited(6 to 7 cm) median skin incision was made, followed by a mini-sternotomy from the second intercostal space to right side of the xiphoid process. Through this limited approach, atrial septal defect closure was performed conventionally with a patch under hypothermic circulatory arrest(less than 10 min). The scar was short(5.5 to 7.3 cm) and cosmetically acceptable in all patients. This mini-incisional procedure is a useful option for atrial septal defect closure that can be completed without sophisticated instruments.