Superior vena cava cannulation in aortic valve surgery: an alternative strategy for a hemisternotomy approach.

Minimally invasive aortic surgery is increasingly being utilized, in particular, through ministernotomy. The choice of the cannulation site is problematic. Venous cannulation may result in wound complications if the femoral vein is used, or may be bulky if the right atrial appendage is used. Our technique of superior vena cava cannulation not only avoids the risk of complications related to the groin but also provides good visualization of the aortic valve making valve implantation easier, especially when using sutureless bioprosthetic valves.