Transaortic double valve replacement in difficult mitral valve exposure.

Adequate open exposure of the mitral valve is necessary to accomplish reconstruction or replacement of the diseased mitral valve apparatus. The technique employed by most cardiac surgeons for mitral valve access involves median sternotomy and vertical left atriotomy posterior to the interatrial sulcus. However, certain conditions can somethimes make this approach very difficult. Different approaches are discussed with particular emphasis on our case in which the transaortic double valve replacement have been performed.