Minithoracotomy vs. Conventional Mitral Valve Surgery for Rheumatic Mitral Valve Stenosis: a Single-Center Analysis of 128 Patients.

Objective: To compare the in-hospital outcomes of a right-sided anterolateral minithoracotomy with those of median sternotomy in patients who received a mitral valve replacement (MVR) because of rheumatic mitral valve stenosis (RMS).

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 128 patients (34% male) with RMS between 2011 and 2015. The median age was 53 years (45; 56).

Ligation of Left Atrial Appendage during Off-Pump Coronary Surgery.

Objective: The main purpose of this article is to evaluate an impact of epicardial ligation of the left atrial appendage (LAA) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) on the development of ischemic stroke and mortality.

Methods: From 2009 to 2013, a total of 125 patients (86.4% men, mean age 64 ± 7 years, 95% confidence interval: 61-65 years) received a combined OPCAB and LAA ligation because of coronary artery disease and AF.