Minimally invasive cardiac surgery

We summarise recent developments in minimally invasive cardiac surgery. We describe the modifications to anaesthetic technique, incisions, cardiopulmonary bypass and myocardial protection, and the endoscopic and robotic adjuncts that permit coronary artery surgery, valve repair and replacement, and repair of descending aortic aneurysms to be successfully carried out. The results for such surgery are summarised and compared to conventional open techniques as well as percutaneous procedures.