Abstract

Aim: To compare the results of isolated aortic valve replacement through ministernotomy and full sternotomy in the elderly.
Material and Methods: This single-center prospective study includes patients over 60 years of age who undergone isolated aortic valve replacement either by upper ministernotomy (22 patients) or full sternotomy (22 patients) during 5 years. Both groups were followed 12 months postoperatively.
Results: All preoperative and operative measures were similar. However, the ministernotomy group had an average of 3 hours less mechanical ventilation time (p

Key words: Minimally invasive; aortic valve surgery; ministernotomy; aged; median sternotomy