title: Multiple valve replacement in limited access: a case report.
abstract: Nowadays minimally invasive surgery represents an accepted technique to treat heart valve disease. We report a case of surgical correction of multiple valve disease in a 61-year-old woman through a minimally invasive right anterolateral minithoracotomy. The intervention was performed under transesophageal echocardiography and videoscopic guidance. High thoracic epidural anesthesia allowed a rapid weaning from mechanical ventilation and a faster recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Cardio Centro Ticino, Lugano, Switzerland. tiziano_torre@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Tiziano
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Torre
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Trunfio
authors.forename: Romano
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mauri
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Siclari
mesh_terms: D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D014262:Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*