title: Efficacy of the Stonehenge Technique for Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement via Right Infraaxillary Thoracotomy.
abstract: Minimally invasive cardiac surgeries for aortic valve replacement (AVR) are still a technical challenge for surgeons because these procedures are undertaken through small incisions and deep surgical fields. Although AVR via vertical infraaxillary thoracotomy can be a cosmetically superior option, a disadvantage of this approach is the distance between the thoracotomy incision and the ascending aorta. Therefore, we devised a technique to perform all manipulations using the fingertips without the aid of a knot pusher or long-shafted surgical instruments. This was achieved by particular placement of several retracted sutures to the right chest wall. We named placement of these sutures the "Stonehenge technique." In conclusion, AVR via vertical infraaxillary thoracotomy with our Stonehenge technique can be safely and simply performed with superior cosmetic advantages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Sakakibara Heart Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kin
authors.forename: Shohei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kitamoto
authors.forename: Shota
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamanaka
authors.forename: Hidefumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.forename: Kosaku
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishigawa
authors.forename: Shuichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takanashi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D013537:Sutures; D013908:Thoracotomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome