[Minimally invasive surgery for single valvular heart disease].

Two patients underwent valve surgery using the minimally invasive approach. A 51-year-old man underwent mitral valve repair for chronic mitral regurgitation due to prolapse of the posterior mitral leaflet. The left-half of his sternum was cut in "C" shape below the level of the second intercostal space, and all of the arterial or venous cannulas were inserted via this single access. A 37-year-old man underwent aortic valve replacement for aortic valve regurgitation due to infective endocarditis. Right upper partial sternotomy between the first and fourth intercostal space was selected for this aortic valve surgery. The median skin incisions were as small as 12 and 9 cm. Postoperative recovery was very smooth. Minimally invasive approach using selected partial sternotomy provides acceptable results with a good exposure, and is an alternative approach to valve surgery.