The port access technique allows the mitral or aortic valves to repaired or replaced through a small thoracic incision, rather than the large incision through the sternum of conventional valve surgery.
The advantages of this technique are in that a sternotomy is avoided, as is the large, very painful incision through the breastbone, which causes so many postoperative lung complications.
This technique reduces these complications and pain resulting in a more rapid recovery, which is particularly noted in patients previously undergoing coronary bypass surgery.