Until now, the right antero-lateral thoracotomy (ALT) has been the operative choice for an optimal cosmetic result in atrial septal defect closure. We examined the symmetry of the breast among female patients who had been operated at the age of twelve, therefore before breast development, either using the ALT method or, in the case of the control group, using the median sternotomy method (MS). In the ALT group, we observed a significant asymmetry, with a smaller right breast. There was no significant asymmetry in the MS group. Although the ALT method impedes the development of the right breast in child patients, the female patients still preferred this method to the MS method. We prefer the mid-axillary method in order to optimise the cosmetic results. To the best of our knowledge, this is an innovative use of the mid-axillary thoracotomy technique in heart surgery among pre-pubescent female patients. The results have significantly influenced our choice of operative method.
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Until now, the right antero-lateral thoracotomy (ALT) has been the operative choice for an optimal cosmetic result in atrial septal defect closure. We examined the symmetry of the breast among female patients who had been operated at the age of twelve, therefore before breast development, either using the ALT method or, in the case of the control group, using the median sternotomy method (MS). In the ALT group, we observed a significant asymmetry, with a smaller right breast. There was no signif...
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