Port-access aortic valve replacement.

A 42-year-old man suffering from massive aortic valve regurgitation with mild stenosis because of a bicuspid valve underwent surgery in May 2007. The surgical procedure was performed through a right anterolateral thoracotomy using the peripheral cannulation method. Cardiac arrest was achieved by direct aortic cross-clamping and selective cardioplegia delivery. The aortic valve was replaced with a bioprosthesis. The operation and aortic cross-clamping periods were 265 and 117 min, respectively. The patient's recovery was uneventful, and he was discharged from hospital 8 days after surgery.