Right Anterolateral Thoracotomy for Cardiac Surgery in the Adult.
- Author:
Sang Kweon LEE
1
;
Sang Pil KIM
;
Hyun SONG
;
Jong Ook KIM
;
Myung Keun SONG
;
Jae won LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, Asan Medical Center, Ulsan University.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Thoracotomy;
Cardiac surgery
- MeSH:
Adult*;
Cardiopulmonary Bypass;
Chest Tubes;
Heart Septal Defects, Atrial;
Heart Valve Diseases;
Humans;
Operative Time;
Sternotomy;
Thoracic Surgery*;
Thoracotomy*;
Wounds and Injuries
- From:The Korean Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
1999;32(8):722-725
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: To secure a rapid and safe approach which is at the same time cosmetically appealing, we employed the right anterolateral thoracotomy incision for repair of atrial septal defects and valvular heart diseases in the adult. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between October 1989 and June 1998, 44 adult patients underwent open heart surgery through right anterolateral thoracotomy at our institution. Operative time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross clamp time, blood loss until chest tube removal, length of ICU stay, days to discharge, and survival were compared with those that received cardiac surgery via conventional sternotomy. RESULT: No significant differences were observed between the two groups. There was no death and no additional morbidity directly related to this approach. Cosmetically satisfying results were obtained with safety using the right anterolateral thoracotomy approach. CONCLUSION: Our data show that the right anterolateral thoracotomy approach is a safe alternative to conventional median sternotomy as it offers excellent exposure and aesthetically more acceptable wounds while not adding on to the operative risks.
