Minimally invasive sternotomy for aortic valve replacement followed by a minilaparotomy for abdominal aneurysm repair

• Published in: The Heart surgery forum Vol. 11; no. 3; p. E181
• Main Authors: Klokocovnik, Tomislav, Span, Matjaz, Gregoric, Igor D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 2008
• Subjects: Aged; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal - complications; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal - surgery; Aortic Valve Stenosis - complications; Aortic Valve Stenosis - surgery; Humans; Laparotomy - methods; Male; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures - methods; Sternum - surgery; Thoracic Surgical Procedures - methods; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1522-6662
• DOI: 10.1532/HSF98.20081029

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are commonly associated with severe coronary artery disease, but the incidence of associated aortic valve disease and AAAs in the general population is not known. The standard approach for surgical repair of AAAs is a laparotomy, and for aortic valve repair, a full sternotomy; results of both approaches are well documented. However, when AAAs and aortic valve disease occur concomitantly and both are symptomatic, they should be repaired during a combined procedure, with the aortic valve repair performed first. We describe the case of a 75-year-old patient with a symptomatic infrarenal AAA and severe aortic valve stenosis. To avoid an extensive surgical incision and shorten the recovery period, we performed a combined procedure in which we replaced the aortic valve through a ministernotomy and repaired the AAA through a minilaparotomy. The postoperative period was uneventful, and the patient was discharged home 6 days after surgery.