Simple de-airing technique for aortic valve replacement with upper ministernotomy.
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.
Kuralay
E
E
Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Cardiovascular Surgery Department, Ankara, Turkey. ekural@gata.edu.tr
Demirkiliç
U
U
Oz
B S
BS
Cingöz
F
F
Tatar
H
H
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*