Background: The superiority of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (AVR) over the standard approach is subject ongoing research. aim this study was to compare outcomes AVR through full sternotomy versus mini-sternotomy.
 Methods: We included 60 patients who had AVR; 30 underwent J- or T-shaped mini-sternotomy, and a sternotomy. isolated excluded concomitant cardiac procedure, redo ...

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 ...

AIM To compare the outcomes of patients who underwent upper mini-sternotomy or right mini-thoracotomy and those who underwent full sternotomy and to report a technical improvement in venous drainage by means of double venous cannulation of the superior vena cava (SVC) in mini surgical procedures. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the outcome of 217 patients who underwent aortic valve replac...

OBJECTIVE Robotic mitral valve repair is the least invasive approach to mitral valve repair, yet there are few data comparing its outcomes with those of conventional approaches. Therefore, we compared outcomes of robotic mitral valve repair with those of complete sternotomy, partial sternotomy, and right mini-anterolateral thoracotomy. METHODS From January 2006 to January 2009, 759 patients w...

OBJECTIVES Aortic valve replacement through conventional sternotomy still represents the gold-standard surgical approach for aortic valve disease. However, given the increasing number of patients with comorbidities, strategies that can improve operative results are always sought. Minimally invasive aortic valve surgery, although related to a steep learning curve, might be associated with improv...

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.

Though most cardiac operations are performed through median sternotomy because of its versatility and familiarity to surgeons, the fact is sternotomy is not without complications, and the problems of post sternotomy pain, dehiscence, mediastinitis, osteomyelitis and unstable sternum increases morbidity and mortality in these patients. Median sternotomy may also leave a bad scar which patients d...

Background Mini-sternotomy for isolated aortic valve replacement aims to reduce operative trauma hastening recovery and improving the cosmetic outcome of cardiac surgery. The short-term clinical benefits from the mini-sternotomy are presumed to arise because the incision is less extensive and the lower half of the chest cage remains intact. The basic conduct of virtually all other aspects of th...

OBJECTIVES Lower mini-sternotomy represents a minimally invasive surgical technique that has been utilized for the repair of a wide variety of congenital heart defects with excellent surgical and cosmetic outcomes. However, clinical improvements provided for this technique beyond cosmetic results are controversial. The aim of our study is to report our results with lower mini-sternotomy for the...