What is minimally invasive cardiac surgery?

minimally invasive cardiac surgery is defined in two different ways. It may refer to a surgery that does not require full sternotomy or breast bone breaking, which usually includes access to the heart between the two ribs. Minimally invasive can also mean heart surgery without cardiopulmonary bypass. In this second definition, a person with sternotomy could still have minimally invasive surgery if the bypass was not used. The first definition is used more often than the second and will be the subject of this article.

There has been a general movement towards the development of a number of minimally invasive cardiac surgery techniques that can be adapted for a wide range of operations. The surgeon has access to many parts of the heart for valve repair, bypass surgery, or for closing congenital defects such as the atrial septum defects or the foramen ovale patent. The benefits of this form of surgery tend to be that there is much less postoperative pain and less visitorName. It has been shown that minimally invasive techniques are as safe and efficient as standard methods that include access through the chest, although no heart surgery is without risk.

Not all heart repairs can be done with ribs. This type of surgery may not be suitable for people who have undergone previous heart surgery. Alternatively, the repair may be so significant that a greater approach to the heart is needed. Similarly, the heart repair without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass is not always possible, although warm, beating cardiac operations can be performed for complex procedures such as fontan.

Further emerging definitions for minimally invasive cardiac surgery involves the use of robotics. For several operations, and if the surgeons have the appropriate equipment, the robot can control the surgeon with small cuts and accurate heart repairs. This technology is a permanent and is not offered by any hospital.

As already mentioned, there may be a real advantage for minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Reduction of postoperative pain may be significant because it corresponds to shorter stays in the hospital and patients could have less risk of getting opportunistic infections if they are at home. On the other hand, the risk of complications from the procedure is often the highest in the first few days after the operation and returning home too soon can risk complications at home.

Due to potential benefits, it may be appropriate to discuss with the surgeon whether minimally invasive cardiac surgery is a suitable choice. Not all surgeons prefer this method and not everyone is trained to offer extensive surgery options with this option. Those who consider cardiac surgery can certainly find surgeons who are qualified, but not all types of patients or heart problems are best treated with this method.