title: [Evaluation of left parasternal approach for cardiac surgery].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a systemic evaluation of left parasternal approach (LPSA) for its clinical application.
  
  
  METHODS
  LPSA was performed in 6 randomly-chosen formalin-preserved adult cadavers and the excisions were evaluated in external light of the external appearance, extent of traumatic injury and exposure of the structures in the thoracic cavity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LPSA left only short and less obvious skin incisions, thus causing minimal exterior appearance impairment. With a small operative field and only a few structures injured by this approach, LPSA had acceptable traumatic lesions and when the adequate intercostal level was chosen, the lateral structures on the left of the heart could be well exposed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LPSA is less invasive and involves acceptable external appearance impairment. Though satisfactory in exposing the structures on the left of the heart, LPSA can not properly expose the structures on the right side.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Command, Guangzhou 510010,China.
authors.forename: Wen-Lin
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei-Sheng
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Kai-Can
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Ren-Chao
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Shi-Zhen
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Wu-Jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013249:Sternum