NCT01972555 (CMILE).

Methods	Study design: open‐label, randomised controlled trial Duration: 22 months No. of centres: single Location: Sweden Setting: cardiac surgical centre Dates: October 2013 to July 2015
Participants	40 consecutive participants undergoing first‐time elective isolated AVR. Exclusion criteria: LVEF < 0.45; coexisting severe valvular disorder; previous cardiac surgery; urgent or emergent surgery
Interventions	Limited sternotomy: either mini‐sternotomy or anterior right‐sided mini‐thoracotomy
Outcomes	Primary outcomes: tricuspid annular systolic plane excursion; right ventricular fractional area change; right ventricular dimensions; pulsed wave tissue Doppler right ventricular velocity (all at postoperative days 4 and 40) Secondary outcomes: not stated (follow‐up time in parentheses)
Notes	Principle investigator contacted for results (October 2016).

AVR: aortic valve replacement; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; LVEF: left ventricular ejection fraction.