HighlightsThe scope of totally endoscopic cardiac surgery in children is limited.Femoral cannulation has risks which increase in small children.Aortic cannulation is the solution to avoid vessel complications in small children.With this technique, small children receive benefit from totally endoscopic surgery.

Objective The aim of the study was to investigate the effectivity and safety of totally endoscopic cardiac surgery without robotic assistance for atrial septal defect (ASD) closure on beating hearts. Methods Twenty-five patients (adults/children: 15/10) underwent ASD closure using nonrobotically assisted totally endoscopic approach on beating heart. Three 5-mm trocars and one 12-mm trocar were used only the superior vena cava is snared filling the pleural and pericardial cavities with CO2, and the heart was beating during the surgery. Twenty-three patients had isolated secundum ASD (2 of which had severe tricuspid regurgitation) and two patients had ASD combined with partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection. All ASDs were closed using artificial patch, continuous suture; tricuspid regurgitations were repaired and the anomalous pulmonary veins were drained to the left atrium. Results No postoperative complications or deaths occurred. Mean± SD operation time and mean cardiopulmonary bypass time were 267.2 ±44.6 and 156.1 ± 33.6 min, respectively. These patients were extubated within the first 5 hours, and the volume of blood drainage on the first day was less than 80 mL. Four days after surgery, patients did not need analgesics and were able to return to normal activities 1 week postoperatively. Conclusions Totally endoscopic operation for ASD closure on beating heart is safe, with short recovery period, and surgical scars are of high cosmetic value, especially in a woman and girl.

There was no report on the application of totally endoscopic surgery for giant atrial myxoma resection. A 62-year-old female patient with giant atrial myxoma causing severe mitral stenosis and acute pulmonary edema underwent a successful operation by totally endoscopic techniques without the assistance of robotic systems using four small trocar ports (three 5-mm trocars and one 12-mm trocar). The patient recovered uneventfully and was satisfied with cosmetic results.

Highlights Minimally invasive cardiac surgery is limited in small children. Femoral cannulation has high risks in children with body weight <15 kg. 7–12 cm skin incision called “mini-thoracotomy” was used with less cosmetic results. Reducing the length of incision without femoral cannulation needs new approach. This technique is safe and feasible for atrial septal defect repair.

Objective: Manipulation in a narrow surgical field and risks of femoral arterial (FA) complications are difficulties when applying totally endoscopic surgery (TES) for congenital heart disease in small children. This study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of TES for atrial septal defect (ASD) repair in children weighing 13 to 20 kg. Methods: From July 2016 to July 2021, 14 patients with a mean age of 5.4 ± 2.2 years and mean weight of 15.57 ± 2.39 kg (range, 13 to 20 kg), underwent TES for ASD repair on the beating heart. FA cannulation was established through a Dacron graft. An additional FA cannula (2 to 4 Fr smaller than the expected size) was placed into the left FA in case of increasing arterial pressure. Three 5 or 5.5 mm trocars and one 12 mm port were used. The surgical field was filled with CO2. No aortic clamp, no aortic root needle, and no snaring of the inferior vena cava were used. The mean follow-up time was 37.9 ± 12.5 months. Results: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) installation time, CPB time, and operation time were 42.6 ± 16.5 min, 113.1 ± 33.1 min, and 209.6 ± 50.6 min, respectively. Total drainage volume was 125.4 ± 89.2 mL. Patients did not need analgesics on day 4 or 5 after surgery. No severe complications, including arterial complications, were recorded during follow-up. Conclusions: By optimizing the surgical field and setting the FA cannula correctly, TES for ASD closure is feasible in small children weighing between 13 and 20 kg.