Keywords
Cardiac catheterization
Thoracic surgery
Pediatrics
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Abstract
Objective: To compare the therapeutic efficacy and safety profile between percutaneous and surgical interventions in the management of congenital heart defects in pediatric patients. Methods: This is a systematic literature review conducted according to the PRISMA protocol and registered in PROSPERO under the registration number: CRD420261282088. Searches were performed in the PubMed, LILACS, and CAPES databases, covering the period from 2016 to 2026. Eleven studies comparing clinical outcomes, complications, and length of hospital stay were included. Results: The percutaneous approach demonstrated superiority in reducing the length of hospital stay and infectious complications for Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) and Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA). However, for congenital coronary fistulas, conventional surgery presented greater safety and lower risks of myocardial ischemia compared to catheterization. Final considerations: Transcatheter therapy should be prioritized in simple septal and ductal defects due to rapid recovery. However, surgery remains the first option for complex anatomies and low-weight infants, requiring individualized indication to avoid reinterventions.
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