Endoscopic surgery is already used by cardiovascular surgeons for procedures such as atrial septal defect repair and coronary artery bypass grafting. Now, Surgeons in France have successfully replaced the aortic valve in two patients without opening the chest during surgery.

Read: First Human Totally Endoscopic Aortic Valve Replacements Reported

This graphic shows the procedural steps of the sutureless bioprosthesis. A, Sutureless bioprosthesis ready for compression. B, Compressed valve ready to be inserted in the trocar. C, Sutureless bioprosthesis passage through the main operative 20-mm trocar. D, Sutureless bioprosthesis compressed and inserted into the aortic root after removal of the native aortic valve. E, Sutureless bioprosthesis, endoscopic decompression, and adjustment into the aortic annulus. F, Complete expansion of the sutureless valve into the aortic root.

Credit: American Association for Thoracic Surgery

Credit: American Association for Thoracic Surgery