Minimally invasive heart surgery (also known as keyhole surgery) is when a conventional operation is performed on the heart using small incisions.
Who are suitable for Minimally Invasive Surgery?
There are many ways to reach the heart for surgery. We always try to use the smallest incision to provide the safest and most successful surgery. We will carefully compare the advantages and disadvantages of minimally invasive techniques with those of traditional surgery techniques.Then we will decide the best approach based on several factors like type of heart disease and how severe it is; age, medical history and lifestyle; and results of tests done before surgery.
Traditional Heart Surgery
Traditional heart surgery uses a cut through the middle of the chest, through the breast bone. The incision is about 6 to 8 inches long.This is the safest and most commonly used incision for patients who need complicated heart surgeries, reoperations, multiple coronary artery bypass procedures or complex aorta procedures.
What surgeries can be performed?
Wide range of procedures can be done using minimally invasive techniques to help make recovery faster and more comfortable.minimally invasive surgery can be used for:Mitral valve repair/Replacement Coronary Artery bypass surgeryAortic valve repair/replacement Aortic aneurysms repairTricuspid valve repair (with mitral valve repair)Ablation of atrial fibrillation ASD closure,VSD closure ,TOF correction ,PAPVC repairRemoval of cardiac tumors (Myxoma, Fibroelastoma of the mitral or tricuspid valve)
Types of Incisions Used in Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
Partial Sternotomy - through part of the breast boneA 3- to 4-inch long incision is made through the sternum, and the breast bone is separated in that area so the surgeon can see the part of the heart that needs surgery.Used for mitral valve, tricuspid valve, epicardial lead placement, atrial septal defect (ASD), patent foramen ovale (PFO), myxoma, and aortic valve surgeries.Used for ascending aorta, aortic valve, mitral valve, tricuspid valve, two valves, transaortic TAVR, ASD, PFO, myxoma and fibroblastoma surgeries.
Mini-thoracotomy
surgeons avoids cutting through the breastbone and, instead, cuts into muscles between the ribs to reach the heart.Used for mitral valve, tricuspid valve, ASD, PFO, myxoma surgeries.Used for aortic valve, transaortic TAVR and transaortic TEVAR surgeries.Used for coronary artery bypass surgery, transapical TAVR, transapical TEVAR and epicardial lead placement surgeries.
Video assisted heart surgery
Used for mitral valve, tricuspid valve with mitral, ASD, PFO, atrial myxoma and fibroblastoma surgeries.Video assisted heart surgery is performed through a small working incision and three other small incisions (ports) that are made in the spaces between the ribs.The instruments and a tiny camera are placed through the ports.
Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques
The benefits of minimally invasive surgery include:Small incisionsmall scarspatients also have Less painshorter hospital stay after surgerylower risk of infectionlower risk of bleeding and blood transfusionshorter recovery time and faster return to normal activities/work
Recovery
You will probably be able to go home 4 to 5 days after surgery. In general, it takes about 1 to 4 weeks before you will feel well enough to return to work (if your job doesn’t involve physical activity), resume driving and take part in most nonstrenuous activities, so long as you have stopped taking pain medications. You can usually get entirely back to your normal routine in 5 to 8 weeks after surgery. It is important to know that everyone has a different recovery
Healthy Living
To keep heart healthy after surgery, it is important to make lifestyle changes and take medications as prescribed. Heart-healthy lifestyle changes that are important to recovery include:Quitting smokingControlling high cholesterolManaging high blood pressure and diabetesExercising regularlyMaintaining a healthy weightEating a heart-healthy dietTaking part in a cardiac rehabilitation program, as recommendedFollowing up with doctor for regular visits