Outcomes
The primary outcome was late mortality and tumor relapse at last follow-up. Secondary outcomes were: cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cross clamp (CC) times, tumor size, re-exploration for bleeding, renal failure, respiratory failure, neurological complications (transient ischemic attack and stroke), in-hospital mortality, re-do surgery at follow-up and total length of stay (LoS). Need for conversion to sternotomy was also recorded in the MI group as a safety endpoint.