BACKGROUND Right mini-thoracotomy and partial sternotomy are widely recognized as effective approaches in minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (AVR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the objective benefits of the respective approaches compared to the conventional approach. METHODS AND RESULTS: A retrospective analysis was performed in 282 consecutive patients who underwent isolated ...

Median sternotomy is frequently selected for the resection of pulmonary artery tumor, and pneumonectomy is performed for complete resection. However, it is difficult to see the inferior pulmonary vein and transect it safely via median sternotomy, so additional thoracotomy is often required and this is highly invasive. In the present case, we employed thoracoscopy (which we routinely use for VAT...

Median sternotomy due to its technical simplicity and excellent exposure of the heart, great vessels and pulmonary hila is the most common incision performed in cardiothoracic surgery worldwide [1]. Originally described by Julian more than 100 years ago and re-induced by Milton in 1957, median sternotomy replaced gradually thoracotomy or bilateral transverse sternothoracotomy (clamshell incisio...

Patient Selection Several surgical approaches have been described for the management of adult patients with acquired heart disease and paraductal coarctation of the aorta. A staged procedure using both median sternotomy and left thoracotomy, a catheter-based intervention of the coarctation combined with sternotomy, and single-stage simultaneous correction of both lesions via sternotomy are some...

OBJECTIVES Ischaemic heart disease is the leading cause of death in the elderly population. Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery via sternotomy remains the standard of care for patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD). Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS)-CABG via left thoracotomy has been used as an alternative to sternotomy. The aim of our study was to assess the ov...

Post-sternotomy mediastinitis is a serious complication after cardiothoracic surgery and contribute significantly to post-operative morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Negative pressure wound therapy is today's golden standard for post-sternotomy mediastinitis treatment. A systematic literature search was conducted at PubMed until October 2012 to analyse whether vacuum-assisted closure ...

Median sternotomy has unquestionably evolved over recent decades. Modern sternotomy involves a 7-8 cm lower midline skin incision, tunneling of the subcutaneous tissues with subsequent creation of myocutaneous flaps, full sternotomy, and standard cardiopulmonary bypass techniques with central cannulation. In experienced centers, modern sternotomy may achieve all the goals of minimally invasive ...

BACKGROUND Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR) is usually done through median sternotomy. The present study aimed to compare the right anterolateral thoracotomy and median sternotomy approaches for AVR. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present prospective study was conducted on 60 patients who had aortic valve disease and were subjected to AVR. Thirty patients underwent aortic valve replacement via right...

We present a case of surgical implantation of biventricular epicardial pacing leads and a defibrillating patch via lower half mini sternotomy. Although median sternotomy is routinely used for this purpose, lower half mini sternotomy could provide the surgeon with the same surgical field exposure and a faster post operative recovery.