• A Arís, J M Padró, and M L Cámara.
• Servicio de Cirugía Cardíaca, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona.
• Rev Esp Cardiol. 1997 Nov 1; 50 (11): 778-81.

IntroductionMinimally invasive surgery is being applied to certain procedures in cardiac surgery. Aortic valve replacement presents the highest number of cases in which this approach is feasible.Material And MethodsFifteen patients, aged 16 to 75 years, underwent aortic valve replacement through a 10 cm incision at the level of the second intercostal space. Cardiopulmonary bypass was instituted through cannulation of the aorta and the femoral vein.ResultsAdequate exposure of the aortic root was achieved in all cases. Valve replacement was accomplished with a mean ischemic time of 50 +/- 6 minutes and a pump time of 80 +/- 14 minutes. Mean chest drainage was of 310 +/- 251 ml. The patients were discharged between the third and the fifth day of the postoperative course.ConclusionsA transverse incision at the level of the second intercostal space provides an excellent exposure for aortic valve replacement. Surgical times are not excessively prolonged and patient's recovery is faster and less painful than with the standard midline sternotomy.

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