Minimal Access Techniques in Aortic Root Surgery

Within the current era of fast progress in technology and improvement in provision of health care in cardiac surgery, minimal access surgery has established its role in providing many advantages in terms of shorter hospital stay and potentially less perioperative adverse outcomes over conventional full sternotomy. It is well established in literature that minimally accessible techniques in aortic valve replacement is safe and as effective as full sternotomy, even it provides better cosmetics and less pain postoperatively. The concept of utilization of such less invasive techniques in aortic root surgery is not fully established yet a part from several case series being reported in literature. The focus of this review will be on the evidences behind utilizing mini-sternotomy in patients undergoing aortic root surgery.