Mitral exposure technique for redo cardiac surgery. a left mediastinal pleurotomy and minimal adhesiotomy method
Yaginuma, G.; Ottomo, M.; Abe, K.; Saiki, Y.; Okada, Y.; Sakurai, M.; Meguro, T.
Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery 42(4): 501-503
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-9509 PMID: 11455287 Document Number: 538576
We report an improved mitral exposure technique for mitral valve re-operation. Left mediastinal pleurotomy through a median sternotomy achieves rotation of the heart and excellent exposure of the mitral valve allowing the apex to drop posteriorly. We employed this technique in redo mitral valve surgeries for over a 3-year period. This minimal adhesiotomy method is technically simple, safe and time-saving.