Early outcome of minimally invasive mitral valve surgery

Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) is safe, with low perioperative morbidity, and low rates of reoperation. Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery has been proven a feasible alternative to the conventional full sternotomy approach with low perioperative morbidity and short-term mortality. Efforts to minimize surgical trauma, hasten patient recovery, increase patient satisfaction, and reduce cost without compromise to surgical repair or replacement techniques, continue to be the rationale for minimally invasive procedures. In this study 30 patients with mitral valve disease (MVD) requiring mitral valve surgery selected by purposive non probability sample. The study was done at the Armed Forces Hospitals (mainly Maadi & Galaa Armed Forces Hospitals). 15 patients attended to do mitral valve surgery by traditional sternotomy (group B), other 15 patients by less invasive surgery (Rt. anterolateral mini-thoracotomy) (group A) with femoral artery and vein cannulation. There was no statistical difference between the two groups preoperatively regarding their age, sex, NYHA class, EF%, LA dimension, spirometric study. There was no operative mortality in both groups but fewer postoperative complications occurred in both groups. Total hospital stay, ICU stay, postoperative bleeding, inotropic requirement, ventilatory support, blood transfusion was less in group “A”, with better cosmetic appearance, and more cost effective. Right anterolateral mini-thoracotomy minimally invasive technique provides excellent exposure of the mitral valve, even with a small atrium and offers a better cosmetic lateral scar which is less prone to keloid formation. In addition, minimally invasive right anterolateral mini-thoracotomy is as safe as median sternotomy for mitral valve surgery, with fewer complications and postoperative pain, less ICU and hospital stay, fast recovery to work with no movement restriction after surgery. It should be used as an initial approach for mitral valve surgery. Furthermore, it was believed that less spreading of the incision, no interference with the diaphragm and less tissue dissection might improve outcomes, particularly respiratory function.