Combined perventricular closure of ventricular septal defect and atrial septal defect via lower ministernotomy

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive approaches such as perventricular closure of ventricular septal defects (VSD) have been applied for the surgical correction of congenital heart defects in order to avoid disadvantages related to median sternotomy with a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). However, reports remain scarce regarding combined perventricular closure of VSD and atrial septal defects (ASD) via minimally invasive approaches, such as lower ministernotomy. RESULTS: The authors have operated on 5 patients who were diagnosed with VSD in association with ASD, successfully realizing perventricular closure via lower ministernotomy. CONCLUSION: The proposed technique proved to be safe and effective.