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Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Technique and Patient Selection Criteria of Right Anterior Mini-Thoracotomy for Minimal Access Aortic Valve Replacement
Published on: March 26, 2018
Operative outcome of minimal access aortic valve replacement versus standard procedure
H Vanoverbeke1, Y Van Belleghem, K Francois
1Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital Gent, Gent, Belgium. hans.vanoverbeke@rug.ac.be
Background:
to determine the advantages and/or risks of minimal access aortic valve replacement compared to standard sternotomy procedure.
Methods:
from January 1997 to December 2001, 271 consecutive adult patients underwent isolated aortic valve replacement of which 174 underwent a minimal access procedure (Group 1) and 97 a standard procedure (Group 2). The preoperative variables of both groups were comparable. Retrospective analysis of postoperative outcome was performed.
Results:
follow-up was complete and ranged from 6 months to 4 years. Overall in-hospital mortality was 3.3% (respectively 2.8 and 4.1%). No statistical difference was noted regarding operative time variables, mortality rate and hospital stay. There was a significant higher incidence of revision (p = 0.018) and late pericardial effusion (p = 0.022) in the minimal access group. Also trends were in favour of the standard group for incidence of postoperative pneumothorax and pericarditis constrictiva.
Conclusions:
minimal access aortic valve replacement is a safe and reliable technique, but carries the risk of incision-related morbidity. Proper patient selection and perioperative management is mandatory.
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