BACKGROUND Treatment of isolated stenosis or occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery through a left anterior mini-thoracotomy has only recently been advocated as an acceptable alternative to standard coronary artery bypass through a sternotomy and with cardiopulmonary bypass grafting. We reviewed our experience with the minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (M...

Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (MICSAVR) has traditionally been performed through forechest approaches, including partial sternotomy, parasternal thoracotomy, or anterior inter-costal thoracotomy (1-3). Proximity to the ascending aorta and aortic valve seems to be advantageous in these approaches. Fore-chest skin incisions are not necessarily ideal, as minimally invasive surgery ma...

In this case report, we present an 86-year old patient with an intercostal pseudoaneurysm after transaortic transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). This new technique of a transaortic approach is considered a possible alternative to the more usual transfemoral, trans-subclavian or transapical access site, mainly in patients with extensive peripheral arterial disease. A mini-thoracotomy ...

Background/Introduction Aortic valve replacement (AVR) is the current gold standard treatment for aortic stenosis. In the last 15 years popularity for minimally invasive (MI) AVR has grown exponentially. The most common techniques for MI-AVR are a partial sternotomy (PS) or a mini-thoracotomy (MT). Although MI access is technically more challenging and results in longer cross clamp and cardiopu...

It might be possible to remove thymic tumors with minimal invasion of the left brachiocephalic vein (BCV) using an advanced videoscopic technique; simple resection of this vessel can be achieved via such an approach. However, tumor invasion of the superior vena cava or right  BCV requires angioplasty or reconstruction, both of which are difficult to perform in videoscopic procedures. We report ...

BACKGROUND Reoperative mitral valve (MV) surgery is associated with significant morbidity and mortality; however, endoscopic minimally invasive surgical techniques may preserve the surgical benefits of conventional mitral operations while potentially reducing perioperative risk and length of stay (LOS) in hospital. METHODS We compared the outcomes of consecutive patients who underwent reopera...

BACKGROUND Mitral valve repair is the standard therapy for patients with severe mitral regurgitation. Currently, robotic mitral valve repair is the least invasive surgical approach and an alternative to the traditional sternotomy. Recent studies and newer guidelines on mitral valve repair advocate for earlier referral to surgery, resulting in better long-term outcomes of valve function and decr...

BACKGROUND Minimally invasive cardiac surgical techniques are increasingly applied in the treatment and management of a variety of adult ventricular septal defects (VSDs). However, repair of adult subarterial VSDs via left anterior mini-thoracotomy is rarely reported. The present study aimed to determine the feasibility and safety of the left anterior mini-thoracotomy for the repair of adult su...