@article {Bouchard39, author = {Denis Bouchard and Louis P. Perrault and Michel Carrier and Philippe M{\'e}nasch{\'e} and Alain Bel and L. Conrad Pelletier}, title = {Ministernotomy for aortic valve replacement: a study of the preliminary experience}, volume = {43}, number = {1}, pages = {39--42}, year = {2000}, publisher = {Canadian Journal of Surgery}, abstract = {Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the technical feasibility and the postoperative course of aortic valve replacement through a ministernotomy.Setting: The Montreal Heart Institute and the H{\^o}pital Lariboisi{\`e}re, Paris, France.Design: A case series from 2 institutions.Patients: Fifty-one patients who underwent aortic valve replacement through a ministernotomy. The sternal incision was started at the level of the sternal notch extending down to the third or fourth intercostal space with a transverse section of the sternum at this level on both sides or limited to the right side (inverted T or L incision). Thirty-nine patients had aortic stenoses, 6 patients were operated for aortic insufficiency and 6 had mixed disease. The mean (and standard deviation) preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction was 0.56 (0.17).Main outcome measures: Cardiac bypass time, complications and outcome.Results: The patients received Carbomedics and St. Jude mechanical valves, Hancock and Carpentier{\textendash}Edwards bioprostheses. Thirty-eight patients were administered antegrade and retrograde cardioplegia, 10 patients antegrade and 3 retrograde blood cardioplegia only. The mean (and standard error) cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamp time were 104 (38) minutes and 72 (16) minutes respectively. Two patients (4\%) died and 2 patients (4\%) showed evidence of a stroke after the procedure. Hospital stay averaged 8 (5) days.Conclusion: We conclude that aortic valve replacement can be done through a ministernotomy approach with perioperative results similar to those obtained through a conventional sternotomy.}, issn = {0008-428X}, URL = {https://www.canjsurg.ca/content/43/1/39}, eprint = {https://www.canjsurg.ca/content/43/1/39.full.pdf}, journal = {Canadian Journal of Surgery} }