Miniesternotomía para cirugía valvular aórtica: experiencia inicial en un centro cardiovascular en Chile / Ministernotomy for aortic valve surgery: report of 20 patients

ABSTRACT

Background: Aortic valve surgery can be performed through a reduced mid sternotomy with excellent long term results. Aim: To report the initial results obtained with this technique. Patients and methods: Descriptive study of 20 patients aged 48±11 years, subjected to valve replacement surgery for aortic valve disease between 2004 and 2007. Arterial and venous cannulation were performed with the usual method and extracorporeal circulation was performed with a mean perfusion of 4.5 L/min. Hypothermia and cardioplegia were performed infusing the hematic cardioplegic solution at 4°C in the aortic root or coronary ostia. Results: Sixteen patients were in functional class (FC) III. Fourteen patients had aortic insufficieney and six had predominant stenosis. There was no operative mortality One patient had a left hemothorax and was reoperated. All patients were discharged between 4 and 6 days after surgery. Mean follow up was 21 ± 4 months. AU patients are in FC I and free from cardiac events. Echocardiographic assessment was done in 16 patients, showing a good motility of valve disks. Actuarial survival probability was 100 percent and probability of freedom from cardiac events was 100 percent at 42 months of follow up. Conclusions: Ministernotomy is an excellent approach for aortic valve surgery providing good visualization ofthe ascending aorta, simplifying the surgical technique.