Objective: To summarize the short-term clinical experience of minimally invasive direct cardiac surgery (MIDCS) with right anterolateral thoracotomy incision by closed cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods: A total of 42 patients received MIDCS in our hospital from 2013-09 to 2015-05 were summarized. There were 18 male and 24 female patients including 16 with atrial septal defect (ASD) repair, 4 with ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair, 16 with mitral valve replacement (MVR), 1 with mitral valve plasty (MVP) and 5 with aortic valve replacement (AVR). Direct cardiac surgery was performed by cardiopulmonary bypass through femoral artery-vein and right jugular vein annulations. A right anterolateral thoracotomy incision (length 3-5 cm) was made to enter the chest and complete the operation. Results: All 42 patients received successful operation, no peri-operative or early post-operative death, no incision infection occurred. Cardiopulmonary bypass time was [98-142 (122.4 ± 23.7) min], aortic cross-clamp time [0-118 (48.3 ± 26.2) min]. Post-operative mechanical ventilation time was [8-76 (17.4±13.1) h], intensive care unit stay time [45-124, (54.6 ± 32.6) h], hospital stay time [6-12, (8.2 ± 1.3) d]. Incision length was [3-7, (4.8 ± 1.5) cm], the draining volume at the 1st post-operative day was (356.9 ± 283.8) ml and there were 27 (64.3%) patients without transfusion. Conclusion: The short-term outcomes for MIDCS were good, it with superior safety, broad application range with minimal invasion and less complication.