ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical experience of aortic valve replacement surgery with minimally invasive procedure. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 72 patients underwent isolated aortic valve replacement in our hospital between January 2011 and August 2013. The patients undergoing minimally invasive procedure were as a minimally invasive group(30 patients with 18 males and 12 females at age of 60.2±13.4 years). The patients undergoings conventional procedure were as a control group(42 patients with 27 males and 15 females at age of 61.3±14.5 years). The outcomes of the two groups were compared. ResultsThere was no death and severe complication in both groups. Postoperative echocardiography showed no paravalvular leakage, no valve dysfunction in both groups. There were no significant statistically differences between the two groups in cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic crossclamping time, ventilation time, postoperative left ventricle ejection fraction, the length of ICU stay and hospital stay (P>0.05). Blood transfusion ratio, blood transfusion volume and blood loss volume were lower in the minimally invasive group than those in the control group (P<0.05). The length of incision, chest closure time, operative duration were shorter in the minimally invasive group than those in the control group (P<0.05). ConclusionUpper median sternotomy is a safe and feasible procedure for minimally invasive aortic valve replacement surgery. Compared with conventional aortic valve replacement, its advantages include less surgical trauma, stable sternum, rapid recovery, less blood loss and blood transfusion, and cosmetic outcomes.