Lower hemisternotomy: Infrequently used but versatile

BACKGROUND: A lower hemisternotomy is an infrequently used approach in cardiac surgery. This single center report evaluates applicability and clinical outcomes of procedures performed through a lower hemisternotomy. METHODS: The institutional database was reviewed. From 2014 to 2019, 55 consecutive patients had undergone minimally invasive procedures through a lower hemisternotomy (median follow-up 34 months). Demographic as well as outcome data were retrieved from our prospectively maintained institutional database. RESULTS: Performed procedures included mitral and tricuspid repairs, aortic valve replacement as well as coronary artery bypass grafting. The median patient age was 72 years. Out of the 55 patients, 55% were male. Predominantly mitral valve procedures (11 isolated, 30 combined) had been performed. Mitral valve procedures (N.=41) consisted of 36 repairs and 5 replacements. Repair rate for degenerative mitral insufficiency was 97.6%. Median EuroScore II was 3.4% (2.1-6.0). Median cross-clamp time was 67 (44-99) min. Median procedural length was 169 (138- 201) min. Reoperation rate for bleeding was 1.8%. Major vascular complications occurred in two patients. Freedom from valve related reoperation was 96.1% during follow-up. Thirty-day mortality and overall mortality during follow-up was 3.6% and 10.9%. CONCLUSIONS: In properly selected cases the lower hemisternotomy allows for a variety of cardiac procedures. It permits central aortic cannulation and a direct vision of intracardiac structures and therefore should be kept in mind as an alternative minimally invasive approach.