title: [Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement for isolated aortic valve disease: clinical analysis of 101 consecutive patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the results for minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (AVR) through a 5 cm right anterolateral thoracotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  From July 2009 to September 2011, 101 consecutive patients with isolated aortic valve disease (degenerative in 37 patients, rheumatic in 21 patients, congenital in 37 patients, endocarditic in 3 patients and aorta-arteritis in 1 patients) underwent AVR through the right anterolateral thoracotomy approach in the third intercostal space with a groin incision for femoral connection of cardiopulmonary bypass. The mean age was 45.7 years (ranging from 17 to 71 years). Sixty patients were male.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Operations were successfully performed in all but 1 patient (1.0%) who required intraoperative conversion to full sternotomy. Mean duration of cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamp time was (88 ± 24) minutes and (55 ± 18) minutes, respectively. Thirty-day mortality was 1.0% (1/101), this patient was found difficult in weaning off cardiopulmonary bypass and exhibited severe coronary artery plaque, although bypass graft was carried out immediately, the patient died of severe low cardiac output syndrome finally. No blood products were needed in 83.2% patients. Follow-up was performed in all patients at an average of (16 ± 7) months postoperatively. A good recovery was obtained in all patients except one who died of multiple organ failure caused by massive cerebral infarction 38 days after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement though the right anterolateral thoracotomy approach is safe and feasible, with good cosmetic results and rapid postoperative recovery. It is worthy of clinical elective application.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Jin-qiang
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Lai
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Li-min
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Ke-jian
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Chun-sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery; D000082882:Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult