MINIMAL PARTIAL STERNOTOMY APPROACH FOR CONGENITAL HEART OPERATIONS

Zhang ZW, Jiang LJ

Affiliated Children's Hospital, Medicine College of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

Objective: To introduce operative technique and to evaluate clinical result of minimal partial sternotomy approach for congenital heart operations.

Methods: From August 1993 to November 2000, a minimal partial sternotomy approach was used to surgically correct 332 children with congenital heart defects. The approach consisted of a skin incision based over the xiphisternum, 5 to 7 cm in length, with the sternum partial split keeping the upper aspect of the incision below the sternomanubrail junction. All patients underwent cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass through the great vessels in the chest using this same incision. The lesions corrected included atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot, partial common atrioventricular canal, partial abnormal dainage of pulmonary veins, patent ductus arteriosus.

Results: There were no deaths. When compared to similar lesions repaired using a full sternotomy approach there was no difference in cardiopulmonary bypass time .It gives good exposure takes less time to close the chest.

Conclution: A minimal partial sternotomy approach can be safely used to repair congenital cardiac lesions and provides a cosmetic incision.

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