Respiratory System Function in Patients After Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery: A Case Control...

Area of Science:

• Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Pulmonary Medicine
• Minimally Invasive Procedures

Background:

• Conventional aortic valve replacement (AVR) can lead to significant respiratory complications and impaired pulmonary function.
• Minimally invasive surgical techniques are increasingly explored to mitigate surgical trauma and improve patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare respiratory system function and complications between minimally invasive right minithoracotomy aortic valve replacement (RT-AVR) and conventional AVR.
• To identify risk factors for prolonged mechanical ventilation after AVR procedures.

Main Methods:

• A comparative analysis of 201 patients undergoing RT-AVR and 316 patients undergoing conventional AVR between January 2010 and November 2013.
• Assessment of respiratory system complications, pulmonary functional status via spirometry, and mechanical ventilation duration.

Main Results:

• RT-AVR showed a trend towards fewer respiratory complications (11.0% vs. 16.8%) and significantly shorter mechanical ventilation times (7.2 vs. 9.7 hours).
• Pulmonary function tests, including FEV1, VC, TLC, MIP, and MEP, were significantly better one week after RT-AVR compared to conventional AVR.
• Stroke, increased blood loss, and COPD were identified as risk factors for prolonged mechanical ventilation.

Conclusions:

• Right anterior minithoracotomy aortic valve replacement does not increase respiratory complications.
• Pulmonary functional status is less impaired after RT-AVR compared to conventional AVR, suggesting a functional benefit of the minimally invasive approach.