Minimal Access Versus Sternotomy for Complex Mitral Valve Repair: A Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Thoracic Surgery

Background:

• Minimally invasive mitral valve repair is in high demand.
• Its efficacy compared to conventional sternotomy for complex mitral valve disease remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the outcomes of minimally invasive versus sternotomy procedures for bileaflet and Barlow's mitral valve disease.

Main Methods:

• A pooled meta-analysis of 18 studies involving 1905 patients.
• Compared moderate mitral valve regurgitation recurrence and reoperation rates.
• Analyzed secondary outcomes including operation time and in-hospital mortality.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in moderate mitral valve regurgitation recurrence and reoperation between minimally invasive and sternotomy groups.
• Minimally invasive procedures had longer cross-clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times.
• No significant differences in secondary outcomes were observed.

Conclusions:

• Minimally invasive and sternotomy approaches yield comparable results for complex mitral valve repair.
• Minimally invasive mitral valve repair is a viable alternative to sternotomy.