[Minimally invasive surgery for single valvular heart disease]

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques

Background:

• Traditional valve surgery often involves median sternotomy, which can lead to longer recovery times.
• Minimally invasive approaches aim to reduce surgical trauma and improve patient outcomes.
• Partial sternotomy techniques are being explored as alternatives for cardiac valve procedures.

Observation:

• Two patients underwent successful valve surgery utilizing distinct minimally invasive partial sternotomy approaches.
• A 51-year-old male had mitral valve repair via a C-shaped sternotomy below the second intercostal space.
• A 37-year-old male underwent aortic valve replacement through a right upper partial sternotomy (first to fourth intercostal space).

Findings:

• Both patients experienced minimal skin incisions (12 cm and 9 cm) and smooth postoperative recovery.
• The minimally invasive approach provided adequate surgical exposure for both mitral valve repair and aortic valve replacement.
• The described partial sternotomy techniques facilitated single-access insertion of all necessary cannulas.

Implications:

• Selected partial sternotomy is a feasible and effective alternative to conventional sternotomy for specific valve surgeries.
• This approach may lead to improved patient recovery and reduced morbidity associated with cardiac surgery.
• Further research into broader application and long-term outcomes of these minimally invasive techniques is warranted.