title: [Minimally invasive approach for heart valve replacement: report of 73 cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a new minimally invasive approach for heart valve operation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Through right minimal vertical infra-axillary thoracotomy incision (by intercostal space), 68 patients with rheumatic heart disease, 2 patients with subacute endocarditis, and 3 patients with congenital heart disease underwent heart valve replacement from March 1997 to Spring 1998.
  
  
  RESULTS
  30 double valve replacements, 33 mitral valve replacements, 10 aortic valve replacements and 14 DeVega tricuspid annuloplasty were performed. The length of the incision averaged (8.5 +/- 0.9) cm, arrest times averaged (88.6 +/- 33.8) min, cardiopulmonary bypass times averaged (117.0 +/- 45.9) min. Five mitral valve replacements were performed with ventricular fibrillation. Ventilator periods averaged (9.6 +/- 3.6) h, chest tube drainage averaged (264.5 +/- 184.3) ml. One patient died of cerebral bleeding in hospital. Two patients suffered SBE and one of them died. The results of follow up for other patients were fine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This minimally incisive valve operation is a new safe, small wounded and cosmetic approach for heart valve replacement.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Department, Fuwai Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100037.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hua
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies