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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