Left Thoracotomy Beating Heart Repair of Mitral Periprosthetic Regurgitation.

Left thoracotomy is a recognized, albeit not a commonly used, approach for mitral valve exposure. This approach represents a good alternative to repeat median sternotomy and repeat right thoracotomy, especially in cases of hostile mediastinum. We present a 72-year-old woman who underwent a beating heart left thoracotomy repair of recurrent severe mitral periprosthetic regurgitation in the presence of a porcelain aorta.