Totally Endoscopic Aortic Valve Replacement: Initial Assessment at University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City

Background: Minimally invasive cardiac surgery offers several benefits, including reduced pain, decreased blood transfusion requirements, shorter hospital stays, lower treatment costs, improved cosmetic outcomes, and faster postoperative recovery. Fully endoscopic cardiac surgery represents a significant advancement in cardiac surgery, transitioning from assisted endoscopy to entirely endoscopic procedures. Many centers worldwide have successfully performed totally endoscopic aortic valve replacement (TEAVR), establishing it as a standard treatment option alongside transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for aortic valve disease. This is the first report on the implementation of this technique in Vietnam. Objective: To report the surgical techniques and early outcomes of seven cases of totally endoscopic aortic valve replacement performed at the University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City. Materials and Methods: A retrospective descriptive case series of seven patients who underwent TEAVR at the University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City from March 2024 to May 2024. Results: Seven patients underwent successful TEAVR. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time and aortic cross-clamp time were 198.1 ± 50.8 minutes and 134.0 ± 27.2 minutes, respectively. No cases required conversion to open surgery. There were no reoperations or in-hospital deaths. Additionally, no complications related to the surgical incision or femoral vessels were observed. All patients had favorable clinical outcomes at discharge and follow-up at 6 month. Conclusion: Totally endoscopic aortic valve replacement is feasible and safe.