We present our initial experience with minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of aortic valve diseases, through a minithoracotomy. From June to November of 1997, 12 patients underwent aortic valve replacement. The surgical technique utilized was ministernotomy from the notch to the fourth right intercostal space. There was no mortality, nor reoperation. There was necessity of complete sternotomy in one case because of difficult of leaving CPB. Late evolution was possible in 91.6 per cent of the cases and they are all free of symptons.