Mitral Valve Procedures and Multivessel CABG through a Single Left Anterior Minithoracotomy

We describe a technique for concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and mitral valve (MV) replacement or annuloplasty with ring implantation performed through a single left anterior minithoracotomy (LAmT). Four patients underwent combined MV and CABG surgery using peripheral cardiopulmonary bypass, a transseptal approach to the MV, and complete coronary revascularization. MV exposure was successfully achieved in all cases without conversion to sternotomy. No major complications such as stroke, reoperation for bleeding, or early mortality occurred. Our initial results demonstrate that single LAmT is a feasible sternum-sparing approach for patients requiring simultaneous coronary and mitral procedures.