title: Minimally invasive closure of patent foramen ovale through port-access surgery.
abstract: We present here our experience of patent foramen ovale closure through a mini-invasive surgical technique. With the new surgical platform termed Heartport System, it is possible to install extra-corporeal circulation and to obtain cardioplegic arrest of the heart with endovascular techniques. This allows the operation of closure to be entirely performed through a micro-thoracotomy (Port-access surgery) in the right 4th intercostal space. Sixty-one patients underwent this surgical correction and seventeen of them (26%) had a diagnosis of patent foramen ovale, 12 with an history of cerebrovascular accidents. They are all alive and well after a mean follow-up of 16 months, with no recurrence of the inter-atrial communication and free from new neurological events. The post-operative course was uneventful with patients discharged on postoperative day 4. This technique shows a 100% efficacy, minimise surgical trauma, allows a quick recovery and offers excellent cosmetic results with no scarring. We believe that this procedure must be regarded as the "golden standard" for the closure of atrial septal defects
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiac Surgery, S. Matteo Hospital, University of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spreafico
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alloni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perrotta
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grasselli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viganò
mesh_terms: D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D019320:Embolism, Paradoxical / Q000209:etiology; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome