Sutureless Aortic Valve Replacement Through a Right Minithoracotomy

During the past decade, interest in the development of less-invasive cardiac valve surgery has undergone a steady increase, with many surgeons having supplanted full sternotomy with minimal-access incisions. While the minimally invasive approaches for the treatment of mitral disease have been standardized, the preferred route for aortic valve replacement (AVR) remains a matter of debate. Although AVR through a right minithoracotomy avoids opening the sternum, it does require a greater surgical ability and may be a challenging procedure, even for expert surgeons. By simplifying the valve implantation, the availability of sutureless prostheses might provide an important incentive for the diffusion of this approach. Herein are reported the details of three patients who received a 3f-Enable sutureless aortic bioprosthesis via a right minithoracotomy. The advantages and possible improvements of this procedure are also discussed. The Journal of Heart Valve Disease 2012;21:168-171