Total thoracoscopic repair of ventricular septal defect: A single‐center experience

Objectives To explore the safety and efficacy of total thoracoscopic repair of ventricular septal defects (VSD). We compared clinical outcomes of VSD via a total thoracoscopic approach with those of mini‐sternotomy. Methods We retrospectively reviewed clinical data from patients with VSD from 2012 to January 2019. According to the surgical pattern, they were divided into two groups: the total thoracoscopic surgery group (36 patients, 27 females, aged 29 ± 9.52 years), and a mini‐sternotomy group (31 patients, 12 females, aged 28 ± 8.67 years). Results There were no deaths in either group. In the thoracoscopic group, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time and aortic cross‐clamping (ACC) time were significantly longer than those of the mini‐sternotomy group (CPB time: 112 ± 23.16 min vs. 78 ± 37.90 min, respectively, p