Should a video-assisted mini-thoracotomy be the approach of choice for reoperative mitral valve surgery?

Background And Aim Of The Study: Reoperative cardiac surgery carries a greater morbidity and mortality than primary cardiac surgery. The study aim was to compare perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery who had already undergone a previous cardiac operation using either a minimally invasive video-assisted (MIVA) mini-thoracotomy or a redo median sternotomy (MS).

Methods: Between January 1996 and June 2003, 71 consecutive patients with prior cardiac surgery underwent mitral valve surgery.

Robotic mitral valve repair: experience with the da Vinci system.

Background: As part of a Food and Drug Administration trial, mitral repairs were performed in 38 patients using the robotic da Vinci surgical system (Intuitive Surgical, Inc, Mountain View, CA). Prospectively, we evaluated safety and efficacy in performing both simple and complex mitral repairs.

Methods: Eligible patients had nonischemic moderate to severe mitral insufficiency.

Causes of increased length of hospitalization on a general thoracic surgery service: a prospective observational study.

Objective: To characterize medical and nonmedical reasons for delayed discharge on a general thoracic surgery unit.

Design: A prospective observational cohort study.

Setting: A university-affiliated tertiary care institution.