Right anterolateral thoracotomy for open reoperations on the mitral valve

Abstract

Three patients underwent mitral valve re-replacement through a right thoracotomy using bicaval to femoral artery, deep hypothermia without aortic cross clamping or cardioplegia. The single indication was previous heart surgery through a median sternotomy. All the patients had straightforward non-complicated surgery and recovery with minimal blood requirements (2,3 and 3 units of blood respectively). Measures to prevent air embolism (which is the most important complication of this procedure) are highlighted. This is safer approach for open reoperations on the mitral valve. The exposure of the mitral valve is excellent, blood loss is less, operating time is shorter, and there is no problem in wound healing unlike resternotomy.

Keywords

• mitral valve reoperations
• right anterolateral thoracotomy