[The role of mini-sternotomy in aortic valve surgery].

INTRODUCTION: Minimal access aortic valve replacement plays a significant role in modern cardiac surgery. The technical evolution of aortic bioprostheses, particularly sutureless valves, leads to simplify minimal access aortic valve surgery and it allows easier implantation in a narrow work field with the need of less manipulation.

AIM: The aim of this study is to summarize the historical and technical aspects of minimal access aortic valve replacement, especially concentrating on sutureless valves, and to present data of own patients of the authors.

METHOD: Pre- and post-operative data of 13 minimal access aortic replacement cases who were operated at the Deparment of Cardiac Sugery at the University of Szeged are summarized.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: As compared to full sternotomy, minimal access aortic surgery is safe, and it does not require special instrumentation. It is technically more demanding but it can be learned quickly, and the overall pre- and post-operative results are not worse with the benefit of less pain and superior cosmetics.