Objective
To analyze and summarize the clinical safety and feasibility of minimally
invasive video-assisted mitral valve replacement via a right thoracic
minimal incision in patients aged over 65 years.
Methods
The clinical data of 45 patients over 65 years old who had mitral valve
disease were analyzed retrospectively from January 2014 to January 2017 at
Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University. The patients were divided into
two groups; 20 patients in group A, who underwent minimally invasive
video-assisted mitral valve replacement via a right thoracic minimal
incision, and 25 patients in group B, who underwent conventional mitral
valve replacement. We collected and analyzed their relevant clinical
data.
Results
The operation was completed successfully in both groups. Compared with group
B, group A was clearly superior for postoperative analgesia time,
postoperative hospital length of stay, thoracic drainage liquid, blood
transfusion, and length of incision. There were no differences between the
two groups in postoperative severe complications and mortality. More
patients in group B had pulmonary infections and poor incision healing,
while more patients in group A had postoperative pneumothorax and
subcutaneous emphysema.
Conclusion
In patients aged over 65 years, minimally invasive video-assisted mitral
valve replacement with a small incision in the right chest had the same
clinical safety and efficacy as the conventional method.