Atrial septal defect closure with axillary mini thoracotomy and total peripheral cannulation: a novel approach

Ostium secundum atrial septal defect (ASD II) is one of the most common congenital heart defects (CHDs), occurring in 5% to 10% of children (1) and in 30% of adult patients with CHD (2,3). Surgical closure has been considered for many years the gold standard treatment for patients with an ASD II. Operative mortality is low (0% to 3%) (4–6) and long-term survival is high (25-year survival of 92%) (7). Here, we describe our initial experience with minimally invasive approach using total peripheral cannulation (TPC) and an axillary minithoracotomy (AMT) 4-5 cm long incision for surgical closure of an ASD. In our knowledge ASD closure with axillary mini-thoiracotomy is for the first time in the country.