Minimal access valve surgery:Experience in 72 patients / 中国微创外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the feasibility of minimal access valve surgery. Methods The authors performed minimal access valve surgery from January 1997 to January 2003 in 72 cases: 36 cases of mitral valve operations and 9 cases of tricuspid valve operations were performed through right anterolateral thoracotomy; 5 cases of aortic valve operations through mini-sternotomy approach; 5 cases of aortic valve operations and 2 cases of mitral valve operations through para-sternotomy approach; 15 cases of mitral valve operations through “reversed L” mini-sternotomy access. Results In the early course following the surgery (within 1 postoperative month ) 71 patients survived and 1 patient died of acute hepatic and renal failure.Complete follow-up in 64 patients for 6～60 months(mean, 13 months) revealed that all the patients responded symptomatically, with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class Ⅱ status in 56 patients and Class Ⅲ in 8 patients. Color ultrasonocardiogram revealed normal status of mechanical or biological valves. All the patients were satisfied with cosmetic results. Conclusions Minimal access valve surgery is feasible, and is also associated with a better outcome in terms of sternal stability and postoperative recovery.