Pulmonary valve replacement via left anterior minithoracotomy: Lessons learned and early experience

Objective Median sternotomy has been the standard for pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) in patients with free pulmonary regurgitation (PR) and right ventricular enlargement. With the introduction of transcatheter therapy, the search for an alternate to sternotomy is mandated. We present our early experience with a limited anterior left thoracotomy approach. Methods We used a left anterior mini-thoracotomy in six male patients (15 ± 1.94 years of...