Right anterior minithoracotomy with total central cannulation

Abstract

A right anterior minithoracotomy is gaining wider acceptance among the members of the surgical community for the treatment of isolated aortic valve replacement. Usually, the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit is implanted either totally peripherally or with 1 cannula in a central position and the other in a peripheral one. This procedure has its drawbacks because it adds potential peripheral morbidity during or after the operation. At our center, during the last year, we have developed some tips and tricks in order to establish in most of the patients a total central cardiopulmonary bypass procedure. We explain this technique in our video tutorial. We think that this approach may help other surgical teams to embrace a right anterior minithoracotomy because it is similar to what we do routinely by sternotomy.

Keywords: Aortic valve replacement; Central cannulation; Minimally invasive surgery; Right anterior minithoracotomy.