title: Saving space for less invasive direct-vision, mitral valve surgery with altered cannulation protocol.
abstract: Saving vital space in less invasive cardiac surgery is of great importance, especially in mitral valve surgery which is sometimes difficult, even with the full sternotomy approach. We present a modification of the venous cannulation protocol we use in less invasive, direct-vision mitral valve surgery through a half-lower partial sternotomy. The superior vena cava is drained with a right jugular vein cannula. For inferior vena cava drainage we use an oval venous cannula which is exteriorized through another small skin incision. These modifications, together with the use of a smaller diameter aortic cannula, provide vital space for surgical maneuvers through a small (810 cm) skin incision.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery Department, Athens Medical Center, Athens, Greece. mspanag@otenet.gr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Panagiotou
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Voutetakis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zarbis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palatianos
mesh_terms: D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D008943:Mitral Valve; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*