Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery through right mini-thoracotomy: recommendations for good exposure, stable cardiopulmonary bypass, and secure myocardial protection

This chapter describes robotic or minimally invasive mitral valve surgery, which was pioneered in 1998 to be the less invasive approach to sternotomy-based mitral valve operations. Patients undergoing robotic valve surgery carry a similar risk of complications that may occur with traditional median sternotomy surgery, but minimally invasive valve surgery has its own inherent complications associated with cardiac access, perfusion, and ventilation methods used in robotic surgeries. Unilateral pulmonary edema (UPE) is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening complication of robotic mitral valve surgery. The incidence of unilateral lung injury, which commonly manifests as UPE, has been reported to be quite variable. The variation in incidence could be related to the difference in patient populations, diagnostic criteria, as well as management. Moreover, the pathophysiology of UPE associated with robotic mitral valve repair remains unclear. The current literature suggests that UPE can be prevented by shorter cardiopulmonary bypass times, avoiding barotrauma, limiting blood product transfusion, and minimizing lung isolation times. Lung preventive ventilation, such as low-level positive pressure and frequent alveolar recruitment, while on cardiopulmonary bypass may be beneficial. Meanwhile, treatment for UPE is dependent on the severity of symptoms.

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Safety of Single-Dose Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate Cardioplegia during Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery

Innovations Technology and Techniques in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery ◽

10.1177/155698451400900604 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 416-420 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Carlo Savini ◽

Giacomo Murana ◽

Marco Di Eusanio ◽

Sofia Martin Suarez ◽

Giuliano Jafrancesco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Single Dose ◽

Mitral Valve ◽

Minimally Invasive ◽

Myocardial Protection ◽

Mitral Valve Surgery ◽

Valve Surgery ◽

Aortic Cross Clamp Time ◽

Htk Solution ◽

Cardioplegic Solutions ◽

Creatine Kinase Isoenzyme Mb

Objective Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery may require a prolonged period of myocardial ischemia. Cardioplegic solutions that necessitate a single dose for adequate myocardial protection are evoked to simplify surgery and result to be appealing in this setting. The aim of this study was to assess early outcomes after minimally invasive mitral valve surgery using one single dose of histidine-tryptophanketoglutarate solution (HTK; Custodiol) for myocardial protection. Methods Between February 2003 and October 2012, a total of 49 consecutive patients underwent minimally invasive mitral valve surgery using a single dose of HTK solution for myocardial protection. The patients’ mean (SD) age was 57 (14) years; the preoperative ejection fraction was normal in all cases. The mean (SD) CPB time and aortic cross-clamp time were 148 (45) minutes and 97 (45) minutes, respectively. Results The heart spontaneously restarted after cross-clamp removal in 37 patients (75.5%). Five patients (10.2%) required prolonged inotropic drug support. Postoperatively, no significant increase in myocardial cytonecrosis enzymes was found [mean (SD) creatine kinase isoenzyme MB, 77.14 (53.67) μg/L at 3 hours, 71.2 (55.67) μg/L at 12 hours, and 42.53 (38.38) μg/L at 24 hours)], and no ischemic electrocardiogram modifications were observed before discharge. Conclusions During minimally invasive mitral valve surgery, HTK solution provided excellent myocardial protection even after prolonged periods of cardioplegic arrest. The avoidance of repetitive infusions may reduce the risk for coronary malperfusion due to dislodgement of the endoaortic clamp (if used) and increase the surgeon's comfort during the procedure.

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