Minimally invasive transaortic repair of the mitral valve

Aortic valve replacement in patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% performed via a minimally invasive right thoracotomy

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the outcomes of patients with aortic valve pathology in the setting of a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% who underwent minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (AVR), with or without concomitant mitral valve (MV) surgery.

METHODS

All minimally invasive AVR in patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35%, performed via a right thoracotomy for aortic stenosis or regurgitation between January 2009 and March 2013, were retrospectively evaluated. The operative characteristics, perioperative outcomes, and 30-day mortality were analyzed.

RESULTS

There were 75 patients identified: 51 who underwent isolated AVR, and 24 who had combined AVR plus MV surgery for moderate to severe mitral regurgitation. In patients undergoing MV surgery, there were 22 (91.7%) MV repairs [ring annuloplasty =7 (37.5%), transaortic edge-to-edge repair =15 (62.5%)], and 2 (8.3%) replacements. No patient required conversion to sternotomy for inadequate surgical field exposure. The median total mechanical ventilation time and intensive care unit length of stay were 14 (IQR, 8-20) and 42 hours (IQR, 26-93 hours) in the isolated AVR group, and 16.5 hours (IQR, 12-61.5 hours) and 95.5 hours (IQR, 43.5-159 hours) in the AVR plus MV surgery group, respectively. The most common post-operative complication was new-onset atrial fibrillation, which occurred in 15 (29.4%) isolated AVR and 4 (16.7%) AVR plus MV surgery patients. The median hospital length of stay and 30-day mortality was 7 days (IQR, 5-12 days) and 1 (2%) in the isolated AVR group, and 10.5 days (IQR, 5-21 days) and 1 (4.3%) for AVR plus MV surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with aortic valve pathology in the setting of a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35%, minimally invasive AVR can be performed, with or without concomitant MV surgery, with a low morbidity and mortality.

Minimally invasive concomitant aortic and mitral valve surgery: the "Miami Method"

Valve surgery via a median sternotomy has historically been the standard of care, but in the past decade various minimally invasive approaches have gained increasing acceptance. Most data available on minimally invasive valve surgery has generally involved single valve surgery. Therefore, robust data addressing surgical techniques in patients undergoing double valve surgery is lacking. For patients undergoing combined aortic and mitral valve surgery, a minimally invasive approach, performed via a right lateral thoracotomy (the "Miami Method"), is the preferred method at our institution. This method is safe and effective and leads to an enhanced recovery in our patients given the reduction in surgical trauma. The following perspective details our surgical approach, concepts and results for combined aortic and mitral valve surgery.

Transapical approach for mitral valve repair during insertion of a left ventricular assist device

BACKGROUND

Severe mitral regurgitation (MR) is common in patients who are undergoing insertion of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). This study analyzes the outcomes of a transapical approach for edge-to-edge repair of the mitral valve during insertion of a left ventricular assist device in 19 patients with MR.

METHODS

This retrospective study includes 19 patients who were implanted between March 21, 2011, and August 31, 2011, at the University of Chicago. Clinical data include preoperative ejection fraction, post- and preoperative pulmonary arterial pressures, cardiopulmonary bypass time, post- and preoperative mitral regurgitation severity, endotracheal CO2, and LVAD pulse index.

RESULTS

All of the 19 patients had a reduction in mitral regurgitation. Fourteen of the 19 patients had at least a three-point reduction in MR severity. The average postoperative pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) decreased after the surgical procedure from 44/22 ± 14/5 mmHg to 57/28 ± 9/5 mmHg. Average CPB time was 128 ± 27 minutes. Average length-of-stay (LOS) was 21 ± 10 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Concomitant MV repair using a transapical approach is advantageous for this small cohort of patients. The surgical procedure is less complex and has a shorter CPB time and LOS, and all of the patients demonstrated significant improvement in postoperative MR and moderate improvement in PAP.