Mini or full sternotomy for aortic valve repair? A systematic review of the literature.

Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement is becoming a standard treatment. The possibility of extending this approach to more demanding aortic root pathologies is being debated with limited evidence. Attaining comfort in a complex aortic repair is a "dogma" that should always be achieved. Perhaps, the patient's condition, the aortic anatomy and the expertise creates the fundamental principles that achieve stable results over time. In this review article, we sought to analyze and report the experience and results of a currently available series on aortic valve repair (with or without associated aortic root procedures) using mini sternotomy. Early- and long-term data will be reported and discussed in terms of survival and aortic valve function.