Mitral exposure technique for redo cardiac surgery. A left mediastinal pleurotomy and minimal adhesiotomy method.

We report an improved mitral exposure technique for mitral valve re-operation. Left mediastinal pleurotomy through a median sternotomy achieves rotation of the heart and excellent exposure of the mitral valve allowing the apex to drop posteriorly. We employed this technique in redo mitral valve surgeries for over a 3-year period. This minimal adhesiotomy method is technically simple, safe and time-saving.