Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery VS Traditional Heart Surgery

Heart surgery is no longer the same as it was years ago. There have been a number of recent advancements that have made heart surgery much less traumatic to the body. Traditional heart surgery requires that the patient is hooked up to a heart lung machine while the procedure is completed. The breast bone is also separated and the heart is temporarily stopped during the procedure.

There are a number of benefits associated with minimally invasive heart surgery, when compared with traditional heart surgery, that make it a much better experience both during and after the surgery. Some of the benefits associated with minimally invasive heart surgery include:

• Smaller Incision – The minimally invasive procedure is completed through several small dime sized holes or through a small three to four inch incision, as opposed to the six to eight inch incision required for the traditional approach
• Smaller Scar – There are better cosmetic results and a smaller scar due to the smaller incision
• Shorter Recovery Time – Recovery time of one to four weeks, instead of the usual six to eight weeks
• Shorter Hospital Stay – Hospital stay of only around three to five days, as opposed to the usual seven to ten days
• Low Risk of Infection and Bleeding
• Usually No Need for a Blood Transfusion
• Preservation of the Breast bone
• Usually No Need to Use the Heart Lung Machine

Minimally invasive heart surgery, also commonly referred to as key hole surgery, is usually the preferred choice of both surgeons and patients. How ever, it is not right for everyone so you will need to speak with your surgeon to find out if you are a good candidate for the minimally invasive approach. Your surgeon will closely analyze your diagnostic test and can give you more information from there.