title: Key-lock type mini-sternotomy: an alternative approach for adult cardiac operations.
abstract: An alternative technique for minimally invasive aortic valve replacement and atrial septal defect repair is described. After a 5-cm skin incision, a key-lock type sternotomy is made. Excellent exposure of the right atrium and aortic valve was achieved. The configuration of the mini-sternotomy (or the lock) limits the movement of the sternal surfaces (or the key) on the lateral and craniocaudal directions.
authors.affiliation: Department for Cardiovascular Surgery, Memorial Atasehir Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. mdumantepe@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mert
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dumantepe
authors.forename: Arif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tarhan
authors.forename: Azmi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozler
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D056346:Sternotomy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*