Non-robotic minimally invasive mitral valve repair: a 20-year single-centre experience

OBJECTIVES: Minimally invasive mitral valve repair (MVR) promises major advantages over median sternotomy regarding cosmetic results and faster recovery. However, the long-term functional outcome of minimally invasive MVR has been questioned by critics because the limited access may not exclusively promise high-quality repair. This study examines the long-term outcome regarding survival and reoperation rate. METHODS: All patients undergoing minimally invasive MVR from February 2000 until March 2020 were included in this study. Baseline clinical and surgical characteristics were summarized from the internal database. Primary end points were survival and freedom from reoperation, analysed via Kaplan-Meier curves. Secondary end points were periprocedural complications after minimally invasive MVR and incidence for recurrent mitral regurgitation >II°. RESULTS: A total of 1194 patients underwent minimally invasive MVR, in 17 cases mitral valve replacement was required. The mean age was 55.1 years [47.6; 62.7]. The successful minimally invasive repair rate was 97%. The 30-day mortality was 0.6%. Survival was 96.7% [standard deviation (SD): 5.8%], 91.6% (SD: 1.1%) and 80.0% (SD: 11.2%) at 5, 10 and 20 years. The incidence of reoperation was 4.4% (SD: 3.2%), 10.3% (SD: 7.4%) and 16.7% (SD : 7.4%) at 5, 10 and 20 years, respectively. Concomitant procedures such as tricuspid valve repair and modified Cryo-maze procedure were performed in 263 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive MVR for degenerative mitral regurgitation is safe, shows excellent functional long-term results and is associated with low perioperative and late mortality.