Advantages:

1.                  Reduced post-operative bleeding.

2.                  Prevention of complications associated with midsternotomy.

3.                  Cosmetic advantage.

What are minimally invasive valve repair/replacement operations?

Our department performs minimally invasive surgery for repair and replacement of the mitral and aortic valves.  The operation involves a mini-thoracotomy incision, and through expansion of the inter-costal space a convenient approach to the valves is achieved.  The surgeon can see and examine the valve in the best possible manner.  A video camera is inserted into the thoracic cavity. Subsequently, using special surgical equipment, the valve is either replaced or repaired.  It is important to point out that, apart from the different approach, the operation is performed with exactly the same method used for an operation performed via a median sternotomy.

Advantages of the method: less bleeding, no risk of sternal infection, quick recovery without the known limitations that arise after median sternotomy, and, of course, the cosmetic advantage.

The under-mentioned paper brings additional information regarding minimally invasive valve repair.

Video clips:

Minimally invasive mitral valve repair - 3.01 min.

Minimally invasive annuloplasty - 56 sec.

Professional papers in the subject of minimally invasive valve repair

1. Evolution of mitral valve surgery: toward a totally endoscopic approach.   Feiger JE et al, Ann Thorac Surg 2001;72:1203-9.

2. Should a video-assisted mini-thoracotomy be the approach of choice for reoperative mitral valve surgery?  Bolotin G et al, J Heart Valve Dis 2004;13(2):155-8; discussion 158.

3. Minimally invasive aortic valve surgery in the elderly: a case-controlled study.  Sharony R et al, Circulation 2003;109(suppl.1):II43-7.

4. Propensity case-matched analysis of a six-year experience with minimally invasive isolated aortic valve replacement.   Sharony R et al, J Heart Valve Dis 204;13(6):887-93.