Mini-sternotomy Approach for Aortic Valve Replacement in the Patient with Retrosternal Gastric Tube

Introduction

Improvements in the late survival of patients with esophageal cancer have been achieved with neoadjuvant and chemoradiation therapy [[1]]. However, such patients with a previous history of mediastinal radiation therapy carry an increased risk of heart disease, often requiring cardiac surgery [[2]]. In patients with a retrosternal gastric tube after esophagectomy, the standard median sternotomy incision for cardiac surgery bears a substantial risk of injury to the gastric tube. Different approaches to protect the tube have been reported, depending on the type of cardiac surgery required. In the present case, isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR) was safely performed through a mini-sternotomy approach.

References

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