Retrograde Arterial Perfusion, Not Incision Location, Significantly Increases the Risk of Stroke in Reoperative Mitral Valve Procedures

The incidence of stroke in reoperative MV operations is associated with perfusion strategies, not with the incisional approach. Reoperative sternotomy and minithoracotomy with central cannulation are both useful for reoperative MV procedures and are associated with low stroke rates.