Standard open-heart surgery involves making an incision down the middle of a patient’s chest from the lower neck to the upper abdomen. This is usually 10-12 inches long and requires dividing the breast-bone or sternum. Minimally invasive valve surgery uses advanced techniques to provide the same surgery through smaller incisions. Click here to view surgery videos about minimally invasive valve surgery.
Benefits
- Smaller incision/scar
- Less bleeding
- Earlier mobilization and return to work/lifestyle
- Less trauma
- Lower infection rate
- Shorter hospital stay
The biggest reason we are doing minimally invasive valve surgery is patient demand. Patients today are more educated and curious today than ever, and with the easy access of information on the Internet, patients are informed of their options and are requesting this procedure.
Cath Lab
Approaches and Techniques
Minimally invasive valve surgery is more complex and demanding than standard heart surgery, and many surgeons are not trained in its use or are uncomfortable performing it. All surgeons would agree that if minimally invasive valve surgery is to be done, the patient must receive the same quality operation through the small incision that they would receive with a full incision. With regards to mitral valve surgery, surgeons should be able to repair nearly 90% of degenerative mitral valve or ischemic mitral valve diseases, and this should not be compromised by the technique of surgery.