Comparison of 2 incision techniques for safety and efficacy in pediatric simple congenital heart surgery: A retrospective cohort study

This study compared the clinical outcomes of right vertical infra-axillary incision (RVIAI) and median sternotomy approaches for treating pediatric simple congenital heart diseases, focusing on postoperative complications and associated risk factors. A retrospective analysis was conducted on pediatric patients with simple congenital heart diseases who underwent surgical repair via median sternotomy incision (group A) or RVIAI (group B). A total of 805 patients were included in the study. Patients in group B had significantly shorter cardiopulmonary bypass time, surgery time, and intensive care unit stay, as well as lower chest drainage volumes on the first postoperative day compared to those in group A. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that the probability of postoperative complications was lower with the group B compared to group A (OR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.29-0.62). RVIAI has a lower incidence of postoperative complications, higher safety, and better efficacy.