Minimally invasive heart surgery uses one or more small incisions instead of an open sternotomy (opening through the breastbone). It’s used for a variety of procedures, including coronary bypass and valve repair.
These surgeries can help you reduce pain, blood loss and time in the hospital. They’re also safer than traditional open heart surgery.
Less bleeding
Minimally invasive heart surgery can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including valve repair and replacement. It is an alternative to traditional open heart surgery, which involves cutting through your chest bone (sternotomy) and using a heart-lung machine to keep blood flowing during the procedure.
Minimally invasive heart surgery is an effective way to repair your heart while reducing the amount of blood loss, pain and bleeding during your surgery. It also can decrease your hospital stay and help you return to normal activities quicker.
Less pain
Minimally invasive heart surgery is an effective way to treat many conditions. It can reduce pain, blood loss and recovery time.
However, minimally invasive cardiac surgery is not for everyone. It requires experience and a high level of skill to perform successfully.
In most cases, patients return to normal cognitive functioning after minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Avoid mentally stressful situations, such as balancing a checkbook, in the first few weeks after surgery.
Minimally invasive techniques have been in use for more than 20 years and are becoming increasingly popular in heart surgery. This trend is due to several factors, including improved technology, patient safety and more effective treatments for certain diseases.
Less blood loss
Minimally invasive heart surgery can be less painful and have a faster recovery than open-heart surgery. Depending on the type of heart problem, your doctor and treatment team will work with you to decide whether it’s an option for you.
The surgeon will make small incisions and insert a long tube (thoracoscope) with a video camera through one of the incisions to see your heart. He or she will use long, thin tools to repair the damaged heart valve.
Today, four leading medical specialty societies released a new clinical practice guideline that includes recommendations for reducing blood loss during heart surgery and improving patient outcomes. It’s available online in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery and two other journals.
Less risk of infection
Unlike open heart surgery, minimally invasive heart surgery uses small incisions to reach the heart. This approach can reduce your risk of infection by minimizing the damage to your lungs and heart.
Minimally invasive procedures are also less traumatic to the body because they involve smaller incisions. This can help you recover faster and return to your daily activities more quickly.
However, these advantages come with disadvantages. Minimally invasive surgeries may require additional recovery time in the hospital and they are not an option for everyone. Talk with your doctor to determine if this type of surgery is right for you.
Less time in the hospital
One of the biggest advantages of minimally invasive heart surgery is that it usually results in less time spent in the hospital. Patients typically leave the hospital two to five days after their operation, which is much sooner than patients who undergo traditional open heart surgery.
Minimally invasive heart surgery is used to treat a variety of heart conditions, including coronary bypass (which restores blood flow to your heart muscle), valve repair or replacement and aneurysm removal. Your surgeon will consider your age, medical history and heart condition to decide whether it’s the right type of surgery for you.
Less risk of complications
Minimally invasive heart surgery (MIS) is an advanced approach that uses small incisions that are less traumatic to the body than traditional open heart surgery. Surgeons trained in this approach use instruments such as catheters, stents and lasers and computer-guided technology to correct heart and vascular conditions.
MIS may be a lifesaving option for high-risk patients who are considered inoperable due to age or other medical conditions. However, there are some disadvantages associated with this surgery. For example, it can be more expensive and takes longer to perform certain procedures than open heart surgery.
