Minimally invasive approaches in cardiac surgery

Traditionally, heart surgery was performed using a sternotomy. After the development of new methods, procedures for valve replacement and myocardial revascularization using thoracotomy and hemisternotomy followed. With the advent of transcatheter aortic valve replacement and rapid opening aortic valves, the question arose of the need to minimize trauma during surgical valve replacement. This article provides data on the historical development of minimally invasive approaches in cardiac surgery, and an attempt is made to compare the advantages and disadvantages of different techniques.