Transaxillary access for ascending aortic and root surgery: a single-center comparison with full and partial sternotomy

Background

Minimally invasive approaches for ascending aortic and root surgery remain controversial regarding operative complexity and safety. The transaxillary (TAX) approach avoids sternotomy entirely but has not been compared with both full sternotomy (FS) and partial upper sternotomy [minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MIC)]. This study evaluates perioperative outcomes across these three access strategies.