Since the development of effective cardiopulmonary bypass technique at Stanford University Hospitals, San Francisco, we have taken advantage of its use for simple as well as complex intracardiac lesions. Early promise suggested that it would eventually prove to be the safest method allowing sure surgical repair. Therefore, in January, 1958, we started to repair all atrial septal defects with support of extracorporeal circulation. In order to evaluate this method and compare it with others available for repair of simple cardiac anomalies, we have analyzed all the secundum type atrial septal defects operated upon since that date.
Presentation of Cases
During the 20-month period from January, 1958, through August, 1959, 77 atrial septal defects of the secundum type were repaired with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass.The patients' ages ranged from 3 to 53 years with an average age of 18. Full clinical, radiological, and electrocardiographic study was combined with cardiac