Minimally invasive valve surgery.

Minimally invasive heart valve surgery has evolved significantly over the past 10 years and now comprises safe and efficient operations for most patients. The main goals of minimally invasive heart valve surgery are to reduce surgical trauma, increase patient satisfaction, reduce morbidity, and lower costs while still providing durable and safe valve repair or replacement. After a decade of refinements, studies have shown that minimally invasive heart valve surgery is a safe and effective procedure with similar if not improved perioperative morbidity and mortality rates compared with conventional valve surgery. Patients derive a variety of tangible benefits from these new surgical approaches, including less pain, shorter lengths of hospital stay, and faster return to preoperative functional levels. Minimally invasive heart valve surgery should be an option for any patient undergoing heart valve surgery today.