Kyobu geka. The Japanese journal of thoracic surgery
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213 patients who underwent surgical treatment for the valvular disease through partial sternotomy were studied. We started the minimally invasive valvular surgery in July 1997. All the valvular diseases were indicated for the minimally invasive surgery except for the annulo-aortic ectasia and the concomitant disease with coronary artery bypass surgery. ⋯ Mortality rate was 3.8%. We could complete 96.2% of our series as a minimally invasive surgery. Post operative intensive care unit (ICU) stay and hospital stay through partial sternotomy were significantly shorter than those through full sternotomy.