Heart Valve Replacement with Axillary Mini-thoractomy / 中国医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the efficacy of heart valve replacement(HVR) with axillary mini-thoractomy (AMT) and HVR with routine medial sternoctomy(MS). Methods The patients wre randomly divided into two groups. In group I 38 cases received HVR with routine MS, and in group II 49 cases received HVR with AMT. Results ⑴The surgical incision was invisible and cosmetic in group I and the volume of post-operative thoracic tube drainage was significantly less than that in group II; ⑵In group I the mean hospitalized days of the patients also was less than those in group II; ⑶There was no significant difference in cardiopumonary bypass time and aortic clamp time between the two groups. Conclusion Axillary mini-thoractomy could be used in most patients of heart valve replacement and has the advantage of the cosmetic and minimal injury.