PURPOSE: Evaluate a new access for surgical correction of atrial septal defects. METHODS: The access by xiphoid window was done in 7 cases with atria! septal defect type ostium secundum. The age ranged from 6 months to 14 years, mean-age 5.1 years old. In all cases the extracorporeal circulation was done with femoral artery and right atrial cannulation and aortic clamping. The video-assisted endoscopy was utilized to help the visualization of the aorta, ductus arteriosus and the anatomy of the left intracardiac structures. RESULTS: There was no intraoperative or postoperative complications and in our 7 cases the extubation at the operating room was possible. CONCLUSION: The xiphoid window without opening the sternum permited correction of the atrial septal defect with good results and without complications, and could be used as a new technique, less invasive, to correct these defects.
Atrial heart septal defects; Xiphoid bone; Extracorporeal circulation; Thoracoscopy; Surgery, minimally invasive