Past, present, and future of minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.

Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (mini-MVS) has evolved into a safe and efficient surgical option for many patients. The overall complication rate is reduced, patient satisfaction increased, and hospital costs are lower with this approach, while providing safe and durable surgery. The repair/replacement of mitral valves via a minimally invasive technique represents a significant recent paradigm shift in cardiac surgery. The rapid development and refinement of minimally invasive valve surgery has enabled the repair of complex valves and, most importantly, has yielded similar results to those provided by standard surgical approaches.