Operative Outcome of Minimal Access Aortic Valve Replacement Versus Standard Procedure

Abstract

Background: to determine the advantages and/or risks of minimal access aortic valve replacement compared to standard sternotomy procedure.

Methods: from January 1997 to December 2001, 271 consecutive adult patients underwent isolated aortic valve replacement of which 174 underwent a minimal access procedure (Group 1) and 97 a standard procedure (Group 2).The preoperative variables of both groups were comparable. Retrospective analysis of postoperative outcome was performed. Results: follow-up was complete and ranged from 6 months to 4 years. Overall in-hospital mortality was 3.3% (respectively 2.8 and 4.1%). No statistical difference was noted regarding operative time variables, mortality rate and hospital stay. There was a significant higher incidence of revision (p = 0.018) and late pericardial effusion (p = 0.022) in the minimal access group. Also trends were in favour of the standard group for incidence of postoperative pneumothorax and pericarditis constrictiva.

Conclusions: minimal access aortic valve replacement is a safe and reliable technique, but carries the risk of incision-related morbidity. Proper patient selection and perioperative management is mandatory.

Key words:

• Aortic valve
• minimal invasive

Additional information

Notes on contributors

H. Vanoverbeke

Dr. H. vanoverbeke university Hospital Gent De Pintelaan 185 B-9000 Gent, Belgium Fax: ++ 32 9 240 38 83 E-mail: [email protected]