Repair of Left Atrial Abnormalities in Children by the Superior Approach

We have used the superior approach through the dome of the left atrium to repair cardiac lesions in the left atrium in 15 children ranging from 3 months to 17 years old. The single hospital death occurred in a 16-month-old infant with levo (L) transposition of the great arteries, Ebstein's malformation of the left atrioventricular valve, and ventricular septal defect. Exposure of the intraatrial structures was excellent, injury to adjacent cardiac structures did not occur, and hemorrhage from the left atrial suture line was not a problem. Though a few transient arrhythmias were seen, all survivors are in sinus rhythm without evidence of sick sinus syndrome, except 1 patient in whom atrial flutter associated with cardiomyopathy developed 1 year after operation. The excellent surgical exposure obtained of the interior of the left atrium and the absence of important complications related to the incision cause us to recommend this approach in children.