title: Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery -- first experience in Poland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Minimally invasive cardiac surgery has been introduced to treat various cardiac disorders, predominantly ischaemic heart disease. Its usage in valvular disorders has been only recently proposed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess safety and efficacy of minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The procedure was performed in 10 patients (6 females, 4 males, mean age 59+/-7 years). All but one had preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Two patients underwent mitral valvuloplasty, and mitral valve replacement was performed in all remaining cases. One procedure was a redo surgery following mitral commisurotomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all patients the procedure was effective. Prolongation of cardiopulmonary bypass and aorta cross-clamping time did not increase the complication rate which included one wound infection, one repeated cannulation of the femoral vessels and one minor stroke. Rehabilitation process seemed to be shorter than after standard procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery is a safe and alternative method of treatment, and is associated with excellent cosmetic results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Silesian Medical School, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Ryszard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bachowski
authors.forename: Stanisław
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Woś
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Domaradzki
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mrozek
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jasiński
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Szurlej
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gołba
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Biernat
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Olszówka
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kolowca
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Duraj
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D011044:Poland; D016896:Treatment Outcome