title: Full sternotomy through a minimally invasive incision: a cardiac surgeon's true comfort zone.
abstract: Increasing attention is being paid by cardiac surgeons to performing cardiac surgical procedures through less invasive approaches, including the use of limited incisions. A limited incisional approach is described that achieves full sternotomy, allows the use of standard operative instruments and techniques, permits rapid, easy conversion to normal sternotomy exposure, and is easy to learn.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgical Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Akins
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*