Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 5, 2025

Technique and Patient Selection Criteria of Right Anterior Mini-Thoracotomy for Minimal Access Aortic Valve Replacement
Published on: March 26, 2018
[Aortic Valve Replacement through an Upper Hemisternotomy in an Eldery Patient with Heart Failure:Report of a Case]
Tatsuya Ozawa1, Yusuke Kawasaki, Etsuro Suenaga
1Divison of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kansai Electric Power Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
Abstract:
Cardiac surgery for elder patients should be minimally invasive because of their frailty and concomitant multiple chronic diseases. We performed aortic valve replacement (AVR) via upper hemisternotomy (UHS) on an 85-year-old patient who suffered from severe aortic regurgitation with dobutamine support. The postoperative course was uneventful. AVR via UHS is safer than that via right axiallary thoracotomy AVR with shorter aortic cross-clamp time, shorter cardiopulmonary bypass time and fewer complications. AVR via UHS makes ambulation and rehabilitation easier than AVR via full sternotomy, because of thoracic stability. It is more effective and should be more prevalent as minimally invasive cardiac surgery for eldery patients with frailty.
Related Concept Videos
Aortic Regurgitation I: Introduction
Aortic Regurgitation III: Medical Management

