Aortic valve replacement via ministernotomy: early results of a two-center study.

BACKGROUND

The reversed T ministernotomy has been proposed by Gundry to perform different congenital and common acquired heart valve operations. In this study we assessed the technical aspects of this approach for aortic valve replacement before starting a prospective randomized study. We evaluated the results of a two-Center study on the technical feasibility of aortic valve replacement via the reversed T ministernotomy according to the Gundry's approach.

METHODS

From January to October 1998 aortic valve replacement via ministernotomy was successfully accomplished in 16 patients at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Rome (Italy) and the Academisch Ziekenhuis of Groningen (The Netherlands).

RESULTS

No complications were reported, except for the damage to the internal mammary artery during the opening of the sternum. The mean postoperative stay was 5.1 days. The postoperative respiratory recovery was easy and fast.

CONCLUSIONS

Prospective randomized studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the minimally invasive approach compared to standard sternotomy.