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OBJECTIVES In patients with atherosclerotic disease, minimally invasive cardiac surgery using retrograde perfusion for cardiopulmonary bypass via femoral cannulation (FC) carries a higher risk of brain embolization compared with antegrade perfusion. However, guidelines for selecting antegrade versus retrograde perfusion do not exist. We developed a computed tomography (CT)-based perfusion strategy and assessed outcomes. METHODS We studied 270 minimally invasive cardiac surgery patients, aged 68 ± 13, 124 female, body surface area 1.6 ± 0.2 m2. Antegrade perfusion using axillary cannulation (AC) was selected if any of the following preoperative enhanced CT scan criteria were satisfied anywhere in the aorta or iliac arteries: thrombosis thickness >3 mm, thrombosis >one-third of the total circumference and calcification present in the total circumference. FC was selected otherwise. Asymptomatic brain injury was assessed by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS AC and FC were selected in 95 (35%) and 175 patients, respectively. AC patients were 10 years older (P < 0.001) and had higher EuroSCORE II (2.7 ± 3.4 vs 1.7 ± 1.9, P = 0.002). The median cardiopulmonary time and cross-clamp times were not significantly different. No patients died in hospital. There was no immediate stroke in either group during 48 h after surgery. Asymptomatic brain injury was detected in 25 (26%) and 27 (15%) AC and FC patients, respectively, P = 0.03. CONCLUSIONS We believe our CT-based perfusion strategy using AC or FC minimized brain embolic rates. AC can be a good alternative to prevent brain embolization for minimally invasive cardiac surgery patients with advanced atherosclerotic disease.

Objectives: There are few reports regarding minimally invasive aortic valve replacement concomitant with mitral valve surgery (MIAMVS). The aim of this study was to evaluate early and midterm MIAMVS results.Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 21 consecutive patients (nine females, 43%) who underwent MIAMVS through a right mini-thoracotomy from December 2014 to April 2017. Mean patient age was 73 ± 7.4 years and four (19%) were New York Heart Association Class III or IV. Aortic stenosis and mitral valve insufficiency were the most common pathologies. All patients were followed for a mean period of 30 ± 8.5 months. Results:The types of surgery consisted of aortic valve replacement with mitral valve repair in 11 (52%) patients, and replacement of both aortic and mitral valves in 10 (48%), while a tricuspid valve repair, was performed in four. No conversion to How to cite this article: Nakayama T, Nakamura Y, Kanamori K, et al. Early and midterm results of minimally invasive aortic and mitral valve surgery via right minithoracotomy.

Objectives This study analyzed the experience of a single institution with minimally invasive mitral valve repair (MIMVr) via a right mini-thoracotomy (RT), including short and mid-term morbidity and mortality as surgical outcomes, and rates of reoperation. Late follow-up findings regarding mitral regurgitation (MR) were also assessed. Methods Between January 2014 and January 2020, a total of 141 consecutive patients underwent MIMVr for mitral regurgitation at our institution via an RT, with late follow-up results (median 35 ± 15 months) available for 129 (91.4%). Findings regarding surgical approach, complications, reoperations, and late survival were examined. Late echocardiographic results showing recurrence of MR after mitral repair were also noted. Survival, freedom from reoperation, and recurrent MR (grade > 2) were evaluated by Kaplan–Meier analysis. Results Mean age was 63.9 ± 14.3 years, mean ejection fraction was 66.9 ± 10.4%, and 2 patients (1.6%) underwent a reoperation. Concomitant procedures included atrial fibrillation ablation (18%), tricuspid valve surgery (16%). None (0%) experienced intraoperative conversion to sternotomy. A learning curve was observed as the number of cases increased. Overall in-hospital mortality and stroke incidence were both 0%. Freedom from recurrent MR (grade > 2) at 1, 3, and 5 years was 99.2, 94.9, and 94.9%, respectively, while freedom from reoperation at 1, 3, and 5 years after mitral valve repair was 98.4, 98.4, and 98.4%, respectively. Conclusions Early and mid-term results of MIMVr were satisfactory, with low rates of perioperative morbidity and recurrent MR, as well as reoperation and death. Furthermore, the protocols for patient selection and surgical approach were considered to be appropriate.

Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ARCAPA) is a rare occurrence that requires surgical repair, typically via cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). In this study, we present the case of a patient with ARCAPA with a high risk of cerebral infarction and left main trunk stenosis. However, because of the high risk of cerebral infarction, CPB was no longer an option during surgical intervention. Instead, we performed off-pump reimplantation of the ARCAPA to the ascending aorta and coronary artery bypass grafting of the left coronary artery. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course. Based on the successful outcomes of this case, we suggest off-pump reimplantation of the ARCAPA to the ascending aorta as a useful alternative for patients who are not eligible to undergo CPB during surgical repair.