Totally endoscopic micro-invasive aortic valve replacement.

ABSTRACT

Micro-invasive totally endoscopic aortic valve replacement surgery is a minimally invasive cardiac procedure that can be performed with the help of several techniques and technologies that employ the latest innovations in instrumentation and technological advances in the field, thereby greatly limiting the overall invasiveness of the procedure. With the help of a 3-dimensional camera, long instruments, a very small thoracotomy and a soft-tissue retractor without any rib retractor, the aortic valve can be easily and safely accessed for replacement. The other main features of these techniques are extracorporeal circulation that is achieved through peripheral percutaneous cannulation of the femoral vessels, antegrade cardioplegia, the use of automated devices for suturing the valvular ring and the prosthetic suture cuff, namely the RAM device, the Sew-Easy device and the Cor-Knot Mini device. Additionally, an automated vascular closure device such as the MANTA device is later used to close the femoral artery following decannulation.