It was studied the possibility of anterolateral right-sided thoracotomy using for correction of congenital heart defects in conditions of cardiopulmonary bypass. 416 patients were included in observation who were operated for congenital heart defects. The main group included 238 patients with anterolateral right-sided thoracotomy. The control group had 178 patients with longitudinal median sternotomy. There was time increase of surgical access in control group in comparison with main group (16.7±6.1 vs 12.3±5.7 min, p<0.001). Also duration of intervention through thoracotomy in patients older than 3 years was greater in comparison with group of patients younger than 3 years (130.5±29.1 and 156.4±37.0 respectively, p<0.001). Comparison of thoracotomy and sternotomy was impossible because of different nosology. It was observed that anterolateral right-sided thoracotomy is accompanied by smaller volume of discharge in drains (74.6±9.8 vs 104.1±13.1 ml, p<0.001). Increasing of hospital staying in sternotomy group (10,2±6,0 vs 7,6±1,2 days, p=0,001) is explained by severity of defect primarily and the presence of comorbidity. Overall complication rate was 5.5% in the main group and 7.9% in the control group. Infectious complications were not observed in any of the groups. It was concluded that anterolateral right-sided thoracotomy may serve as access in case of correction of several congenital heart defects in conditions of cardiopulmonary bypass with minimally intermediate postoperative complications.