Bentall through a right mini-thoracotomy: A single-center experience

Objective: The minimally invasive right thoracotomy approach is being increasingly used for aortic valve surgeries. It has several benefits in terms of decreased blood loss and length of hospital stay as compared to conventional sternotomy technique. Selected patients requiring aortic root and ascending aorta surgery can be operated on using a similar approach. In this case series, we share the outcomes of Bentall surgery done through right mini-thoracotomy. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study of five patients who underwent elective right mini-thoracotomy modified Bentall Procedure. Instruments routinely used in minimally invasive cardiac surgery were used. The outcomes that were evaluated include cross-clamp times, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) times, time to extubation, total length of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay, re-exploration rates, and inhospital and 30-day mortality. Results: The mean CPB times and cross-clamp times were 128 and 96 min, respectively. The total circulatory arrest was used in two patients with a mean time of 12 min. The mean time to extubation was 7 h. The mean ICU stay and the total length of hospital stay were 1.5 and 5 days, respectively. No patient required re-exploration for bleeding. We did not have any inhospital or 30-day mortality. Conclusion: The right mini-thoracotomy modified Bentall procedure is reproducible and safe in selected patients with annuloaortic ectasia.