ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of totally thorascopic (TT) and median sternotomy (MS) approaches for atrial septal defect repair (ASDR). MethodsDatabases including The Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2016), PubMed, EMbase, CBM, CNKI, WanFang Data and VIP were electronically searched from inception to June 2016, to collect randomized controlled trials or cohort studies about TT vs. MS approaches for ASDR. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2 software. ResultsA total of 11 cohort studies involving 687 patients were included with 305 patients in the TT group, and 382 patients in the MS group. The results of meta-analysis showed that: The TT group had shorter postoperative ventilation time (MD=-1.49, 95%CI -2.27 to -0.71, P=0.000 2), postoperative ICU stay time (MD=-7.30, 95%CI -12.07 to -2.53, P=0.003), hospital stay time (MD=-2.06, 95%CI -2.80 to -1.32, P<0.000 01) and less postoperative drainage (MD=-199.83, 95%CI -325.96 to -73.70, P=0.002) than the MS group. But the bypass time (MD=9.42, 95%CI 1.55 to 17.30, P=0.02) and aortic clamping time (MD 6.78, 95%CI 3.48 to 10.07, P<0.000 1) of the TT group were significantly longer than those of the MS group. ConclusionCompared with MS, TT can significantly reduce the length of postoperative ventilation, postoperative ICU stay, hospital stay and postoperative drainage. But there are risks of prolonged bypass time and aortic clamping time in the TT group. Due to the quantity and quality of the included studies, the above conclusions still needs to be verified by carrying out more studies.