Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.  1999 Aug;32(8):722-725.

Right Anterolateral Thoracotomy for Cardiac Surgery in the Adult

• Lee SK
• Kim SP
• Song H
• Kim JO
• Song MK
• Lee JW

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.

Keyword

Thoracotomy; Cardiac surgery

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Chest Tubes
Heart Septal Defects, Atrial
Heart Valve Diseases
Humans
Operative Time
Sternotomy
Thoracic Surgery*
Thoracotomy*
Wounds and Injuries