BACKGROUND: To report single-institution experience with minimally invasive mitral valve operations through the right minithoracotomy over a 5-year period. METHODS: Patients who underwent minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) between January 2012 and December 2016 were included. Clinical follow-up data were collected in a prospective database and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Data from 151 patients were assessed (mean age, 63.4 ± 9.7 years; 55% were females). Overall 30-day mortality was 0.7% (n = 1). Mean operating time, cardiopulmonary bypass, and aortic cross-clamp times were 254.9 ± 48.7, 140.5 ± 36.1, and 94.8 ± 27.0 minutes, respectively. Associated procedures were tricuspid valve annuloplasty (37.1%, n = 56) and closure of atrial septal defect (6.0%, n = 9). Cryoablation was performed in 43.7% of patients (n = 66). One patient (0.7%) required conversion to median sternotomy and six patients (4.0%) underwent re-explorations due to bleeding. Median postoperative hospital stay was 12 days. Overall survival at 5 years was 94.1% ± 2.0%. Freedom from reoperation was 94.6% ± 2.9% at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: MIMVS is a feasible, safe, and reproducible approach with low mortality and morbidity. Mitral valve surgery through a small thoracotomy is a good alternative to conventional surgical access.

Department of Anesthesiology Resuscitation and Intensive Medicine Charles University Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital in Hradec Kralove Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

Department of Cardiac Surgery Charles University Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital in Hradec Kralove Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

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