Aortic root replacement by ministernotomy / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: To compare the clinical outcome between ministernotomy and standard median sternotomy in aortic root replacement. Methods: A total of 60 patients underwent aortic root replacement (ARR) between July 1999 and October 2001 in Fu Wai Hospital. 15 patients who underwent ARR by ministernotomy were defined as the MINI group. The comparable group was 45 patients who underwent ARR by standard median sternotomy (STD group). Results: There was no post-operative death in each group. Early postoperative complications occurred in 3 (20.0%) of the MINI group and in 5 (11.1%) of the STD group (P= 0.661). In the MINI group, both the mean opera ting time and the cardiopulmonary bypass time were significantly longer than that in STD group (P=0.027, P=0.015). There was no significantly difference in ao rtic cross-clamping time between two groups. In the MINI group, the mean intubation time, postoperative blood transfusion amount, the mediastinal drainage and duration of hospital stay were less than that of the STD group. But, they all showed no statistical significant differences. Conclusion: Both approaches for patients undergoing AAR resulted in acceptable morbidity. AAR by ministernotomy provides a potential benefit of less trauma and reduction of blood transfusion.