Right anterior minithoracotomy for aortic valve replacement.

We present the case of a 78-year-old lady with severe aortic stenosis who underwent cardiovascular investigations for ingravescent dyspnea [New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III] undergoing minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (MIAVR) through right anterior minithoracotomy (RT). The patient’s height and weight were 170 cm and 62 kg, respectively. Risk factors included hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a mean aortic transvalvular gradient of 52 mmHg and peak gradient of 88 mmHg. Left ventricular ejection fraction was 45% and systolic pulmonary artery pressure was 50 mmHg.