Abstract
Minimally invasive surgical access for the treatment of mitral and tricuspid valves has become an alternative method to the conventional approach via median sternotomy. Videoassisted approach through the small right thoracotomy, so called MICS (minimally invasive cardiac surgery), is indicated for the therapy of the atrioventricular valve disease, closure of the atrial septal defect or the extraction of the patological formation from the left or the right atrium.
MICS approach is associated with the shorter postoperative lenght of stay, shorter postoperative intensive care unit stay or shorter ventilation time. Return to the normal activity is faster in MICS approach, with improved cosmetic results.
Minimally invasive access has been adopted as a routine method for the therapy of valve dissease and is the method of the first choice in some departments. MICS procedure is a safe and feasible technique with comparable mortality and in-hospital morbidity