Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery , Pain and Recovery Time

Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery

Introduction

Minimally invasive cardiac surgery, also called port access cardiac surgery, is a method to perform certain types of heart operations. The surgeon makes small incisions in your chest, about 3 to 5 inches long. The surgeon inserts surgical instruments and a special camera through these incisions. Some patients may also require an additional incision for the bypass machine. Once the surgery is complete, your doctor removes the tubes, closes the incisions and covers them with bandages

Minimally invasive cardiac surgery, also called port access cardiac surgery, is a method to perform certain types of heart operations.

Minimally invasive cardiac surgery, also called port access cardiac surgery, is a method to perform certain types of heart operations. Minimally invasive cardiac surgery is less invasive than open heart surgery and is performed on patients who are at risk of open heart surgery.

Minimally invasive cardiac surgery can be used to treat coronary artery disease, which occurs when the arteries that supply blood flow to your heart become narrowed by plaque buildup or hardened by atherosclerosis. The goal of minimally invasive cardiac surgery is to treat the narrowing or blockage without having to open up the chest cavity and make a large incision.

The surgeon makes small incisions in your chest, about 3 to 5 inches long.

The surgeon makes small incisions in your chest, about 3 to 5 inches long. These incisions are usually made under the collarbone and between the ribs. Tiny instruments are inserted into these incisions and used to repair your heart or valve disease while you’re asleep.

The surgeon may use one or more catheters (small flexible tubes) through these incisions:

●     A tube called a coronary access sheath is placed in an artery that supplies blood to your heart muscle, such as the femoral artery in your leg or arm. This helps guide other devices into place for surgery on a certain part of your heart muscle or blood vessel system (coronary arteries). The sheath also allows for monitoring of pressure inside the heart during surgery and removal once it's done.

●     An additional catheter may be used to measure pressure within various chambers of the heart during surgery so that fluid can be added if needed; this measurement helps guide fluid management during minimally invasive cardiac surgery procedures.*

The surgeon inserts surgical instruments and a special camera through these incisions.

The surgeon inserts surgical instruments and a special camera through these incisions. The camera allows the surgeon to see inside the body and guide the instruments as they cut and repair the heart.

The surgeon can also see on a monitor if there are any problems with your heart.

Your doctor may need to insert an additional small tube into your blood vessels or windpipe, depending on the type of operation you need.

Your doctor may need to insert an additional small tube into your blood vessels or windpipe, depending on the type of operation you need. Your heart and lungs will be monitored during the procedure.

The tube is inserted through a small incision in your neck or groin and used to monitor your heart and lungs. It can also be used to help you breathe under general anesthesia if needed, as well as provide fluids and medications while you rest after surgery.

A few patients may also require an additional incision for the bypass machine.

When the heart is stopped, the lungs are also temporarily stopped. This allows the heart to be opened and repaired without blood flowing through it. When you open the chest cavity, you will see that most of your heart has been removed and replaced by wires and tubes that connect your head to a bypass machine.

When a person’s heart stops beating during surgery, two things must happen:

●     Your body’s oxygen supply must be maintained so that you do not suffer brain damage

●     Your blood pressure must remain stable so that there is enough blood flow for proper organ function

Once the surgery is complete, your doctor removes the tubes, closes the incisions and covers them with bandages.

●     Once the surgery is complete, your doctor removes the tubes and closes the incisions.

●     The surgeon will place stitches over each incision to close it.

●     The surgeon will remove any drains that have been placed in your chest cavity to drain excess fluid from an open heart valve or blood from a valve repair operation.

●     Your doctor will give you pain medication to help manage discomfort after surgery. You may also receive antibiotics for infection prevention, as well as medications that force you to cough up excess mucus from around your lungs and airways (in case a lung collapsed during surgery). Your doctor may also prescribe other medications including anti-anxiety drugs or antidepressants if necessary; these decisions are made on an individual basis based on how much anxiety or depression you experience before and after the procedure.

●     After surgery, it’s important to rest while recovering at home so that no further damage is done by movement that could cause bleeding inside your body or reopen one of your surgical sites (for example: opening up stitches). You should avoid heavy lifting while recovering so as not to strain muscles needed after surgery — no more than 20 pounds until two weeks post operatively when they can increase gradually back up again over time until reaching 50 pounds (or less depending upon their ability level).

Minimally invasive cardiac surgery can decrease post-operative pain and recovery time compared to open surgery

●     Minimally invasive cardiac surgery can decrease post-operative pain and recovery time compared to open surgery.

●     Minimally invasive cardiac surgery reduces the risk of infection.

●     Minimally invasive cardiac surgery allows patients to go home sooner after the procedure, which decreases the risk of developing complications such as blood clots or pneumonia that are associated with extended hospital stays.

●     Minimally invasive cardiac surgery improves blood flow to the heart and helps patients recover more quickly because there is less damage done by opening up a new incision in your chest.

Conclusion

Minimally invasive cardiac surgery has many benefits over traditional open-heart surgery. It can be used to treat a wider range of heart conditions and is associated with lower rates of complications, blood loss and infection. Patient recovery times are also reduced because there is less pain and swelling after the operation compared to open-heart surgery.

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