title: Minimally invasive mitral valve repair suggests earlier operations for mitral valve disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We began minimally invasive mitral valve surgery in August, 1996, to reduce hospital costs, to improve patient recovery, cosmetic appearance, and to decrease trauma, yet maintain the same quality of surgery. To validate this approach we reviewed our entire experience through May 2002.
  
  
  METHODS
  From August 1996 to May 2002, we performed 413 minimally invasive mitral valve operations including 51 mitral valve replacements and 362 mitral valve repairs. Excluding 4 robotically assisted repairs, we evaluated 358 patients, using the mitral valve repairs as the basis for this retrospective survey. These operations were performed through a 6- to 8-cm minimally invasive incision, beginning with parasternal and, most recently, lower ministernotomy (181 patients). The mitral valve reparative techniques include repair of 94 prolapsed anterior leaflets, posterior leaflet resection, leaflet advancement, commissuroplasty, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE; Gore-Tex, W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc, Flagstaff, Ariz) chordal placement, and ring annuloplasty. Cannulation sites varied but primarily utilized a miniaturized system of 24F catheters in both the inferior and superior venae cavae with assisted venous suction. The Cosgrove ring was used in 95% of the patients undergoing this procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The operative mortality was 0/358. Perioperative morbidity included a 26% incidence of new atrial fibrillation, 2% incidence of pacemaker implantation, 0.5% incidence of deep sternal wound infection, and 1.9% incidence of stroke after an operation. There were 10 arterial and 3 venous complications. The mean length of stay was 6 days and 208 patients stayed < or =5 days. Only 25% of the patients underwent homologous blood transfusion. The mean follow-up was 36 months with 1.4% lost to follow-up. There were 12 late deaths and a survival at 5 years of 95%. There were 21 valves requiring reoperation for structural valve failure of 5.8%. The probability of freedom from reoperation at 5 years was 92%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study documents the safety of minimally invasive mitral valve repair surgery in 358 patients. It also documents a low incidence of homologous blood use, requirement for post-hospital rehabilitation, and general morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Greelish
authors.forename: Lawrence H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Cohn
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leacche
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karavas
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.forename: Sary F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Aranki
authors.forename: Gregory S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Couper
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001900:Boston; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012086:Reoperation; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013995:Time; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome