• Nobuyuki Furukawa, Oliver Kuss, Anas Aboud, Michael Schönbrodt, Andre Renner, Kavous Hakim Meibodi, Tobias Becker, Amin Zittermann, Jan F Gummert, and Jochen Börgermann.
• Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart and Diabetes Center North Rhine-Westphalia, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany qtgkk994@yahoo.co.jp.
• Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2014 Aug 1;46(2):221-6; discussion 226-7.

ObjectivesThe proportion of minimally invasive approaches is rising in cardiac surgery, in part driven by increasing patient demand. This study aimed to perform a risk-adjusted comparison of mortality, rate of stroke and perioperative morbidity of aortic valve replacement (AVR) conducted through either partial mini-sternotomy or conventional sternotomy.MethodsBetween July 2009 and July 2012, data from 984 consecutive patients undergoing isolated AVR were prospectively recorded. In 44.3% (n = 436), the less invasive partial mini-sternotomy was used. Propensity score matching was performed based on 15 preoperative risk factors to correct for selection bias. In-hospital mortality, stroke rate as well as other major complications in the minimally invasive group and conventional sternotomy group were compared in 404 matched patient pairs (total 808).ResultsIn-hospital mortality and rate of postoperative intra-aortic balloon pump use were identical for propensity-matched patients, 1.0% (4 in each group). The rate of stroke [OR (95% confidence interval (CI)): 0.80 (0.22-2.98)], perioperative myocardial infarction [OR (95% CI): 2.00 (0.18-22.06)], low-output syndrome [OR (95% CI): 0.90 (0.37-2.22)], new onset of dialysis [OR (95% CI): 1.25 (0.49-3.17)] and re-exploration for bleeding [OR (95% CI): 0.88 (0.50-1.56)] were similar. Likewise, resource utilization (operation time, duration of stay in the intensive care unit and in-hospital stay) and valve selection (type and size) was not affected by the surgical approach either.ConclusionsAVR can be safely conducted through a partial mini-sternotomy. This approach is not associated with an increased rate of complications. However, wide CIs reflect the still prevailing statistical uncertainty in estimates, not excluding patient-relevant differences between approaches. Large trials, which also address end points, such as postoperative pain, duration of postoperative recovery and quality of life, are needed to clarify the role of minimally invasive AVR.© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.

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