title: Mitral valve repair robotic versus sternotomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Robotically assisted mitral valve repair were compared with sternotomy mitral valve repair. Prospectively we evaluated safety and efficacy in performing simple mitral repairs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between February 2004 and September 2005, 25 patients with posterior leaflet insufficiency underwent mitral valve repair using the da Vinci system. They were matched retrospectively with 25 patients who underwent the same repair via a median sternotomy. The minimal invasive repairs were performed with peripheral cardiopulmonary bypass, transthoracic aortic cross-clamp, and antegrade cardioplegia. Repair was performed with two ports and a 4-cm intercostals lateral incision in the right chest for access. All patients had posterior leaflet resection and placement of a ring annuloplasty.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients had successful valve repairs. There were no deaths. There was one conversion to an extended thoracotomy in the minimal invasive group due to a bleeder on the left atrial appendage. Overall mean study times showed a longer aortic cross-clamp (range, 96.1 min vs 69.6 min) and cardiopulmonary bypass (range, 122.1 min vs 85.7 min) for the minimal invasive group. Length of stay was less for the minimal group (7 days vs 9 days). At postoperative echocardiography two patients in both group developed 2+ mitral regurgitations. All other patients had a competent mitral valve repair with no insufficiency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simple mitral valve repair can be successfully performed with the da Vinci robotic system. This approach is as safe as a sternotomy and long-term follow-up is needed to determine the durability of the mini invasive repair.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institut Mutualiste Montsouris, 42 Boulevard Jourdan, 75014 Paris, France. thierry.folliguet@imm.fr
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Folliguet
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vanhuyse
authors.forename: Xanis
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Constantino
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Realli
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Laborde
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods