Treatments

Conventional & Minimal Invasive Surgery

Conventional heart surgery (also known as open-heart surgery) and minimally invasive heart surgery (MIS) are two distinct approaches to performing surgical procedures on the heart. Both are used to treat a wide range of heart conditions, but they differ primarily in how the heart is accessed and the extent of surgical trauma involved.

Conventional (Open) Heart Surgery

Conventional heart surgery involves making a large incision in the chest and opening the breastbone (sternotomy) to provide direct access to the heart. During this type of surgery, the heart is often stopped, and a heart-lung bypass machine is used to maintain blood circulation and oxygenation throughout the body.

Conditions Treated with Conventional Heart Surgery:

• Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG): Bypassing blocked coronary arteries.
• Heart Valve Repair or Replacement: Repairing or replacing damaged heart valves (mitral, aortic, tricuspid).
• Aneurysm repair: Repairing a weakened section of the aorta or heart wall.
• Congenital heart defects: Correcting birth defects in the heart.

Advantages:

• Full visibility and access: Surgeons can directly see and access the heart, which is beneficial in complex surgeries.
• Better control for certain surgeries: Especially useful for procedures requiring precision, like aneurysm repairs.

Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery (MIS)

Minimally invasive heart surgery uses smaller incisions, specialized instruments, and often advanced technology (such as robotic systems or endoscopes) to perform heart surgery with less trauma to the body. MIS does not always require opening the chest fully, and it often avoids the use of the heart-lung bypass machine.

Conditions Treated with Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery:

• Valve diseases: Repair or replacement of damaged heart valves (mitral, aortic, tricuspid).
• Coronary artery disease: Certain cases of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
• Atrial fibrillation: Minimally invasive surgery can be used to treat abnormal heart rhythms (such as with the Maze procedure).

Advantages:

• Shorter recovery time: Recovery is often faster, with hospital stays ranging from 3-5 days and patients resuming normal activities sooner (within a few weeks).
• Less postoperative pain: Smaller incisions result in less pain during the recovery period.
• Lower risk of infection: Due to smaller wounds, the risk of infection is reduced.
• Minimal scarring: Smaller incisions result in less visible scars.