The Influence of Congenital Heart Defect Repair Through a Right Subaxillary Thoracotomy on Postoperative Pulmonary Function and Prognosis in Small Infants.

Background: The influence of repair of congenital heart defect (CHD) via a right subaxillary thoracotomy (RSAT) on postoperative pulmonary function and prognosis in small infants is a key consideration. Methods: Data were collected from infants who underwent ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair or VSD and atrial septal defect (ASD) between March 2020 and September 2024. Based on propensity score matching, 80 small infants (weight <5 kg and age <6 months) were selected, of which 40 underwent VSD repair or VSD, and ASD repair through an RSAT, while 40 underwent VSD repair or VSD and ASD repair through a standard median sternotomy (SMS). Perioperative respiratory parameters, morbidity, and mortality were compared to assess the influence of the RSAT approach on pulmonary function and postoperative outcomes in small infants. Conclusion: Compared with SMS, the RSAT approach for the repair of congenital heart defects does not increase the risk of postoperative respiratory insufficiency and yields comparable outcomes in low-weight small infants.