Background: The superiority of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (AVR) over the standard approach is subject ongoing research. aim this study was to compare outcomes AVR through full sternotomy versus mini-sternotomy.
 Methods: We included 60 patients who had AVR; 30 underwent J- or T-shaped mini-sternotomy, and a sternotomy. isolated excluded concomitant cardiac procedure, redo ...

OBJECTIVE To examine the short- and long-term results of right extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MM) via median sternotomy or thoracotomy. METHODS We analysed the results of EPP in consecutive patients with early stage MM undergoing a radical surgery protocol for MM over a 7-year period. Initially thoracotomy, but later median sternotomy, was the incision of...

Median sternotomy is the most commonly used incision in cardiothoracic procedures. Development of breast abscess after sternotomy is a very rare situation. We present a case of sternal wound infection with recurrent bilateral breast abscess after sternotomy. Our case is the first and only case in the literature due to the presence of sternal wound infection with recurrent bilateral breast absce...

Though most cardiac operations are performed through median sternotomy because of its versatility and familiarity to surgeons, the fact is sternotomy is not without complications, and the problems of post sternotomy pain, dehiscence, mediastinitis, osteomyelitis and unstable sternum increases morbidity and mortality in these patients. Median sternotomy may also leave a bad scar which patients d...

OBJECTIVE Robotic mitral valve repair is the least invasive approach to mitral valve repair, yet there are few data comparing its outcomes with those of conventional approaches. Therefore, we compared outcomes of robotic mitral valve repair with those of complete sternotomy, partial sternotomy, and right mini-anterolateral thoracotomy. METHODS From January 2006 to January 2009, 759 patients w...

BACKGROUND Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting (MICS-CABG) and minimally invasive valve surgery (MIVS) have been used independently to manage occlusive coronary artery disease and valvular diseases, respectively. We present 12 patients who underwent combined MICS-CABG and MIVS via bilateral mini-thoracotomies. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 116 consecutive valve/CABG opera...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and rhythm outcomes of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation through a port access approach compared with sternotomy in patients with AF associated with mitral valve diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS From February 2006 through December 2009, 135 patients underwent biatrial AF ablation with a mitral operation via either a port-access appro...

We investigated the effect of incision and sternotomy on the auditory evoked potential (AEP) and EEG, to try to predict a haemodynamic response to incision or sternotomy using the AEP and EEG in 41 patients undergoing cardiac surgery during propofol and alfentanil anaesthesia. The AEP and EEG were recorded before incision, between incision and sternotomy, and after sternotomy. Peak latencies an...

BACKGROUND Reoperation of cardiac surgery via median sternotomy can be associated with significant complications. Thoracotomy is expected to reduce the risk of reoperation and to enhance the surgical outcomes. We retrospectively analyzed two operative approaches (thoracotomy vs. sternotomy) in cardiac reoperation. MATERIALS AND METHODS From September 2007 to December 2010, 35 patients who req...