Objective To compare perioperative outcomes of minimally invasive aortic valve surgery by a right anterior minithoracotomy (RAMT) and conventional sternotomy. Methods A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent isolated aortic valve surgeries in our hospital between May 2021 and August 2023 with a minimal incision via the right anterior minithoracotomy approach (a RAMT group) or conventional incision via the full sternotomy approach (a conventional group). A propensity score-matching analysis was performed to balance preoperative data and compare perioperative data of the two groups. ResultsThere were 58 patients in the RAMT group, including 46 males and 12 females with an average age of 52.0±14.1 years; 128 patients were enrolled in the conventional group, including 87 males and 41 females with an average age of 60.0±12.4 years. After propensity-score matching, there were 51 patients in each group. The RAMT patients had a longer mean operation time, cross-clamping time and cardiopulmonary bypass time compared to the conventional group (all P<0.05). However, ICU length of stay, ventilator-assisted time and postoperative hospital stay were significantly shorter in the RAMT group (all P<0.05). Patients in the RAMT group had lower 24 hour chest drain output (P<0.05). RAMT was associated with a trend towards a lower blood transfusion rate in comparison to the sternotomy group, although this was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The occurrence of all-cause death, stroke and perioperative complications was also similar in both groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Right anterior mini-thoracotomy is associated with less trauma, faster recovery, less postoperative drainage, and shorter hospital stay than conventional approach. Right anterior mini-thoracotomy in patients undergoing isolated aortic valve surgery is a safe approach and can be performed by a wide range of surgeons.
ObjectiveTo investigate the early clinical efficacy of minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting (MICS CABG) for multivessel coronary artery disease. MethodsThe patients who received off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in the Central China Fuwai Hospital of Zhengzhou University from June 2021 to June 2023 were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups according to the operative technique used, including a traditional midline sternotomy group where the full median sternotomy was performed, and a left chest small incision group where left anterior mini-thoracotomy was performed. The clinical data of the two groups were compared. ResultsA total of 143 patients were enrolled, including 70 patients in the traditional midline sternotomy group and 73 patients in the left chest small incision group. The age of the patients in the left chest small incision group and the traditional midline sternotomy group was 63.8±8.0 years and 63.0±7.8 years, respectively; the proportions of males were 69.9% and 74.3%, respectively. The differences were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). All patients in the two groups successfully completed the operation, and no patients in the left chest small incision group were converted to thoracotomy. The patients in the left chest small incision group showed less postoperative drainage within postoperative 24 hours (239.4±177.7 mL vs. 338.0±151.9 mL, P<0.001), lower perioperative blood transfusion rate [32.9% (24/73) vs. 51.4% (36/70), P=0.028], higher postoperative myoglobin level within postoperative 24 hours [366.1 (247.9, 513.0) ng/mL vs. 220.8 (147.2, 314.9) ng/mL, P<0.001], shorter intensive care unit stay [45.5 (31.5, 67.5) h vs. 68.0 (46.0, 78.5) h, P=0.001] and postoperative hospital stay (10.8±4.0 d vs. 13.1±5.3 d, P=0.028] compared to the traditional midline sternotomy group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event between the two groups [2.7% (2/73) vs. 2.9% (2/70), P=1.000]. ConclusionCompared to the full median sternotomy, MICS CABG leads to a good clinical result with smaller trauma, faster overall recovery, and less perioperative blood transfusion.