Objective: To compare the results obtained from two distinct surgical approaches in patients undergoing surgical correction of an atrial septal defect (ASD). Method: The study series consisted of 20 patients, with a mean age of 24.1 ± ± ± ± ± 14.2 years, distributed in two groups. In group A, 10 patients (80% female, with a mean age of 20.9 ± ± ± ± ± 12.0 years) underwent surgical correction of ASD through a complete sternotomy. In group B, 10 patients (80% of females, with a mean age of 27.4 ± ± ± ± ± 16.1 years) were operated through an inverted 'L' ministernotomy. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There was no statistical significance for demographics variables, duration of surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass time, clamping time, amount of cardioplegia administered, thoracic drainage, ICU stay, duration of mechanical ventilatory support, amount of blood and its components transfused, arrhythmia or pacemaker usage. There was statistical significance (p= 0.00001) between incision size performed by complete sternotomy (group A) and inverted 'L' mini-sternotomy (group B), with mean incision sizes of 15.7 ± ± ± ± ± 0.8 and 6.8 ± ± ± ± ± 0.6 cm, respectively. There was a difference in the mean hospital stay between the groups but without statistical significance (7.5 ± 1.6 days in group A and 6.4 ± 1.3 days in group B, with a p-value = 0.12). There was no mortality or complications reported in either surgical approach. Conclusion: There was no difference in the operative and postoperative periods between the techniques that were performed except for the incision size, with a better cosmetic result seen with the inverted 'L' ministernotomy.