title: Will minimally invasive valve replacement ever really be important?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Most cardiac surgical centers worldwide have instituted some form of minimally invasive surgery into their operative armamentarium. However, skepticism still remains whether minimally invasive valve replacement will ever really be important. This review first addresses the definition of minimally invasive surgery and then analyzes the possible advantages and disadvantages of minimally invasive valvular surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The nomenclature for minimally invasive surgery is ill defined. Minimally invasive valve replacement is a safe and effective procedure compared with total sternotomy. The advantages of minimally invasive valve replacement are the length of stay and disposition after discharge, postoperative bleeding, cosmesis, and postoperative pain, whereas the main disadvantage involves the operative times early in the learning curve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minimally invasive valve replacement is beneficial and will continue to evolve as an important treatment option for patients with valvular heart diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5407, USA.
authors.forename: Anthony D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Caffarelli
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Robbins
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D013997:Time Factors