Assessment of pain, anxiety and depression, and quality of life after minimally invasive aortic surgery.

Background: Minimally invasive cardiac surgery may reduce surgical trauma, diminish postoperative pain and improve quality of life (QOL). The aim of this study is to assess pain, hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), and QOL in patients undergoing minimally invasive aortic surgery.

Methods: This is a prospective, single-center cohort study of 24 consecutive patients undergoing upper ministernotomy aortic valve, aortic root, and concomitant aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement.