title: [Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery via right minithoracotomy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize the successful experience of 45 patients with minimally invasive mitral valve surgery via right minithoracotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five patients with mitral valve disease were enrolled. A main surgical wound (4-6 cm)was made over the lateral border of the right breast. Cardiopulmonary bypass was established via femoral cannulation. The Chitwood clamp was inserted thlution the 2nd or 3rd intercostal space. After the cross-clamp was placed, cold blood cardioplegic solution was delivered via right minithoracotomy. The procedures of mitral valve replacement were performed via left atrialotomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the operations were successful. There was no death. The duration of operation and extracorporeal circulation was 80-291(139±35) min, and 25-110(49±21) min, respectively. The cross-clamped time was 18-77 (33±12) min, the ventilation time was 4.5-45(14.8±10) h, the total chest tube drainage was 50-1 050(262±110) mL, and the postoperative hospital stay was 5-14(7.5±1.8) d.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery via right minithoracotomy is feasible, safe, and less invasive with rapid recovery,and has superior cosmetic results for patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiovascular Disease Research, Department of Adult Cardiac Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Heming
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jianguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D005260:Female; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult