Full Sternotomy with Minimal Skin Incision for Congenital Heart Surgery

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the feasibility of the full sternotomy with minimal skin incision and its related complications and risks. Methods: A total of 405 patients with simple congenital heart disease underwent open heart surgery exclusively under full sternotomy with minimal skin incision. We reviewed the available medical records of the patients retrospectively. Bypass time, aorta cross clamp time, and period of hospital stay were compared with the control group (223 patients with standard long skin incision). Results: Full sternotomy with minimal skin incision provided adequate surgical views and successful repair was done in all patients. There was no mortality. One patient had chylopericardium after the operation and another patient had a postoperative bleeding at the sternum. Minimal skin incision took the similar aorta cross-clamp time and total cardiopulmonary bypass time compared with full skin incision in atrial septal defect patients. Among the ventricular septal defect patients, minimal skin incision took a little longer aorta cross-clamp time (10%). but similar total cardiopulmonary bypass time compared with full skin incision. Conclusion: Minimal skin incision with full sternotomy provides improved cosmetic results. There was no increased mortality and morbidity using minimal access. It can be applied to more complex congenital heart disease contrast to other minimal invasive techniques for atrial septal defect.