Is minimally invasive mitral valve surgery inappropriate for
redo-surgery or elderly patients? -- Study of 55 consecutive cases
following minimally invasive mitral valve replacement via right
mini-thoracotomy
Abstract
Background: Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery has been established
as a routine procedure at our institution. In the present study, early
and mid-term outcomes of patients who underwent minimally invasive
mitral valve replacement (MIMVR), including redo-operations and elderly
patients, during the 5-year post-surgery period were analyzed to review
short-term morbidity and mortality, and mid-term results. Methods:
Preoperative variables, intraoperative findings, and postoperative
outcomes of MIMVR patients treated from January 2014 to November 2020
and prospectively stored in a database were reviewed. Survival and
freedom from cerebrovascular events were evaluated using life tables and
Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results: A total of 445 patients underwent
minimally invasive mitral valve surgery during the study period, of whom
55 received mitral valve replacement (MVR), including 18 cases of
redo-MVR and 10 elderly (≥80 years old) patients. Mean age at the time
of surgery was 70.7±11.3 years. The number of patients who underwent
conversion to a sternotomy was 0, while 30-day mortality was noted in
one (2%). For all MIMVR cases, 1- and 5-year survival was 90.8±3.9 %
and 76.5±7.1%, respectively. Furthermore, freedom from cerebrovascular
events and anticoagulation-related complications was 94.3±3.2% and
84.2±6.3% at 1 and 5 years, respectively. In univariate analysis,
independent predictors of hospital mortality and prolonged hospital stay
included infectious endocarditis, while previous cardiac surgery and
elderly status were not significant factors. Conclusions: MIMVR can be
performed safely and effectively for redo-MVR and in elderly patients
with very few perioperative complications. Early and mid-term outcomes
in the present cohort were acceptable.