title: Simple de-airing technique for aortic valve replacement with upper ministernotomy.
abstract: Upper ministernotomy for aortic valve replacement is intimidating for many surgeons, not only for limited surgical exposure but also for the inability to complete de-airing the apex of the heart. Conversion to full sternotomy had been reported for this inability to de-air the apex of the heart in a limited number of cases. We describe a simple de-airing method by introducing a 16 GA catheter into the apex of the left ventricle through the aorta and prosthetic valve.
authors.affiliation: Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Cardiovascular Surgery Department, Ankara, Turkey. ekural@gata.edu.tr
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kuralay
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Demirkiliç
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Oz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cingöz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tatar
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013249:Sternum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*