Minimally Invasive Video-assisted Mitral Valve Replacement with a Right Chest Small Incision in Patients Aged Over 65 Years

Minimally invasive vs. conventional mitral valve surgery: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Objective

The evidence underlying the efficacy and safety of minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) is inconclusive. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate whether MIMVS improves clinical outcomes compared with conventional sternotomy.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to January 2024 for all randomised controlled trials (RCTs), comparing MIMVS with conventional mitral valve surgery. RevMan 5.4 was used to analyse the data with risk ratio (RR) and mean difference (MD) as the effect measures.

Results

Eight studies reporting data on 7 RCTs were included in our review. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality, the number of patients requiring blood product transfusion, and the change from baseline in the SF-36 physical function scores between the MIMVS and conventional sternotomy groups. MIMVS reduced the length of hospital stay (MD -2.02 days, 95% CI: -3.66, -0.39) but did not affect the length of ICU stay, re-operation for bleeding, and the incidence of renal injury, wound infection, neurological events, and postoperative moderate or severe mitral regurgitation. MIMVS was associated with a trend toward lower postoperative pain scores (MD -1.06; 95% CI: -3.96 to 0.75).

Conclusions

MIMVS reduced the number of days spent in the hospital and showed a trend toward lower postoperative pain scores, but it did not decrease the risk of all-cause mortality or the number of patients needing blood product transfusions. Further large-scale RCTs are required to inform definitive conclusions, particularly with regard to quality-of-life outcomes investigating functional recovery.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO (CRD42023482122).

Periareolar approach in female patients undergoing mitral and tricuspid valve surgery: An almost invisible surgical access

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY

Periareolar minithoracotomy represents an interesting option in minimally invasive cardiac surgery and it is our preferred approach for women. Our aim is to assess the results in female patients, in terms of nipple postoperative pain, local sensitivity, and eventual alterations in mammography after surgery.

METHODS

Fifty-seven female patients underwent periareolar incision, as minithoracotomy approach, from December 2018 to December 2021. Their mean age was 56 ± 12 years, their body mass index was 22.5 ± 4.8; their surgery was elective in 93%, with mean Euroscore II about 2 ± 1.3.

RESULTS

Of 57 patients, 87.7% (50 patients) underwent mitral valve repair, whose six with associated procedures; 8.8% (five patients) underwent mitral valve replacement whose two with tricuspid annuloplasty associated and 3.5% (two patients) had isolated tricuspid surgery. The cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp time were 123.2 ± 30.2 and 101.3 ± min respectively. There were no conversions to either full sternotomy or larger thoracotomy approach. There were no in-hospital and follow-up deaths. No strokes or wound infections were observed. Mean follow-up was 16± 9 months. Within the investigated follow-up, 100% of the patients were satisfied with the esthetic result, no remarkable postoperative pain was reported, two patients had slight hyposensitivity in the nipple area. About 50% IThad mammography as prevention screening after surgery and no abnormalities were found.

CONCLUSIONS

Periareolar minithoracotomy is a feasible surgical option in female patients, with excellent healing and cosmetic results and preserving the tissues of the mammary gland.

Minimally Invasive Versus Sternotomy for Mitral Surgery in the Elderly: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective

The safety of minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) in elderly patients is still debated. Our objective was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing MIMVS with conventional sternotomy (CS) in elderly patients (≥65 years old).

Methods

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, clinicaltrials.gov, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for trials and observational studies comparing MIMVS with CS in patients ≥65 years old presenting for mitral valve surgery. We performed a random-effects meta-analysis of all outcomes.

Results

The MIMVS group had lower odds of acute renal failure (odds ratio [OR] 0.27; 95% CI 0.10 to 0.78), prolonged intubation (>48 h; OR 0.47; 95% CI 0.31 to 0.70), less blood product transfusion (weighted mean difference [WMD] −0.82 units; 95% CI −1.29 to −0.34 units), shorter ICU length of stay (LOS; WMD −2.57 days; 95% CI −3.24 to −1.90 days) and hospital LOS (WMD −4.06 days; 95% CI −5.19 to −2.94 days). There were no significant differences in the odds of mortality, stroke, respiratory infection, reoperation for bleeding, and postoperative atrial fibrillation. MIMVS was associated with longer cross-clamp (WMD 11.8 min; 95% CI 3.5 to 20.1 min) and cardiopulmonary bypass times (WMD 23.0 min; 95% CI 10.4 to 35.6 min).

Conclusions

MIMVS in elderly patients is associated with lower postoperative complications, blood transfusion, shorter ICU, and hospital LOS, and longer cross-clamp and bypass times.