Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
What is minimally invasive cardiac surgery?
Minimally invasive cardiac surgery is a set of techniques in which surgeons perform operations through very small incisions — roughly the size of a paper clip.
Conditions that can be treated with minimally invasive cardiac surgery include:
- atrial septal defect
- ventricular septal defect
- complete AV canal defects
- tetralogy of fallot (for some patients)
- vascular ring
- right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian
- double aortic arch
How does minimally invasive cardiac surgery differ from conventional open heart surgery?
If your child undergoes an open-heart surgical procedure that requires the use of a heart-lung bypass machine:
- the surgeon has to make a full incision across the sternum (breastbone), resulting in a very visible scar
- the sternum will need to be wired, and healing of the bone would take six to eight weeks
| Read about Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery on our blog, Vector |
| A host of pediatric and adult heart problems can now be fixed via minimally invasive robotic surgery. This approach shortens hospital stays and is generally less painful for patients. Learn more about the benefits and what conditions may qualify for this treatment. |
