Cardiac Surgery - Open Heart vs Minimally Invasive Surgery

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Minimally Invasive versus OpenHEART SURGERY

• Pros Cons

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Minimally Invasive Surgery vs. Open Heart Surgery
While undergoing a medical treatment or a
surgical procedure, we always need as much
information as possible in order to decide and
more importantly know what is going to happen to
our body and indeed to us. There are several
doubts about open heart and minimally invasive
procedures.
Much emphasis has been put during the past years
on minimally invasive cardiac procedures, yet
cardiac surgeons still perform the open heart
surgery in some cases. Of course your trusted
doctor will help you decide and let you know
which surgical option is the best for you, but
being informed is of utmost importance before
undergoing surgery. Lets review their pros
cons and clear some doubts.
How are they performed? Which are their
advantages and disadvantages?

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Open Heart Surgery
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• What is it? Benefits, Disadvantages, Options

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Sternotomy Precedes Open Heart Surgery
Open heart surgery is a common, traditional and
major surgery performed to improve heart
function. During open heart surgery the chest
wall is opened and the heart is operated directly
by the specialist.
Usually a sternotomy precedes heart surgery,
since this procedure gives access to the heart
through an incision (10-12 inches incision) in
the chest that begins at the top of the sternum,
and ends at the bottom of it. After the initial
incision, surgeons cut through the sternum to
make sufficient room for the open-heart surgery.
Once the heart exposed, the patient is connected
to a heart-lung bypass machine, allowing the
surgeon to operate on a heart that isn't beating
and that doesn't have blood flowing through it.
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Pros Cons of open heart surgery

• Open heart surgery may have significant risks and
  potential complications, and some patients may
  not be able to undergo Open Heart Surgery, either
  because their illness is too extensive or their
  heart is too weak.
• These patients will be better candidates for
  minimally invasive surgery, of course this will
  be decided by the specialty doctor.

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Pros and Cons of Open Heart Surgery

• Pros of Open Heart Surgery
• Reestablishment of regular delivery of oxygen
  nutrients to the heart
• Fewer heart rhythm problems
• Low incidence of vascular complications and
  stroke
• Less damage to the heart and cardiac muscles
• Allows careful, and rapid manipulation of
  arteries
• Allows cardiac valves reparation along with
  other structures without the need of altering the
  basic surgical approach.

• Cons of Open Heart Surgery
• Very invasive, increased trauma and sometimes
  pain after the surgery requiring more pain
  medications
• Increased risk of infections at the incision area
  (meticulous care for hygiene required)
• Blood transfusions needed in most cases
• Increased length of ICU and hospital stay (5 to
  10 days)
• Longer return to normal activities, (6-8 weeks)
• Increased inflammation after the surgery
• Major risk of heart attack or stroke
• Increased breathing problems

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Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
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• What is it? Benefits, Disadvantages, Options

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Small Incisions with Minimally Invasive Heart
Surgery
Minimally invasive cardiac surgery is performed
through several small incisions in one side of
your chest these incisions are not so traumatic
and need less recovery time. Minimally Invasive
heart surgery provides some extra advantages to
the patient, including the fact that the
patients heart is still beating (of course a
device will be attached to your heart to
stabilize it), and you wont need undergo
sternotomy.
During cardiac minimally invasive surgery, the
heart is reached through the small incisions (3
to 5 inches), done by the cardiac surgeon the
areas muscles will be separated and the costal
cartilage removed. After these steps, the
specialist will repair the heart, depending upon
your diagnosis.
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Pros Cons of Minimally Invasive heart surgery

• Important Not all heart conditions that are
  performed with open heart surgery have the
  minimally invasive surgical technique option.

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Pros and Cons of Open Heart Surgery

• Pros of Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
• Reduced post-operative discomfort
• Reduced pain after surgery (less pain
  medications)
• No need to use a heart-lung machine
• Smaller incisions and less scars (lower infection
  rates)
• Faster recovery, quicker return to normal
  activities (2 or 3 weeks)
• Reduced bleeding and blood loss
• Reduced blood transfusion
• Better visualization for better surgeons
  performance
• Improved breathing due to less trauma to the
  sternum (breastbone)
• Safe for different heart repairs, and used as an
  alternative for other cardiac procedures
• Costs advantage due to shorter hospital stay.

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Pros and Cons of Open Heart Surgery

• Cons of Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
• Prolonged operation as it is technically more
  difficult (of course this will depend on the
  specialist)
• You will have to take medication to slow the
  heart down
• Difficulty of suturing because the heart is still
  beating
• Increased incidence of vascular complications and
  stroke
• Limited use, it may not be applicable for all
  heart surgeries
• In some cases, revision surgery is needed.

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Worldwide options forCardiac Surgery
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• Specialists, Advanced Procedures Techniques,
  Best Cardiac Surgery Clinics Worldwide!

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Heart surgery can provide you with a better
quality of life!
Regardless of what you and your cardiac surgeon
decide is the best approach for you
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