Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
Standard heart surgery typically requires exposure of the heart and its vessels through median sternotomy (dividing the breastbone), considered one of the most invasive and traumatic aspects of open-chest surgery.
A minimally invasive approach to heart surgery allows access to the heart through small incisions and without stopping the heart, separating the breastbone (sternum) and ribcage, or requiring a heart-lung machine to be used.
Many cardiothoracic surgeons now recognize the benefits of small incisions made between the ribs to perform coronary bypass or make repairs to the heart or esophagus by using thoracoscopy – the insertion of a miniaturized video camera between the ribs.
Minimally invasive heart surgery is performed through a small incision, often using specialized surgical instruments including a thoracoscope. The incision used in minimally invasive cardiac surgery may be about 2 to 4 inches, made between the ribs, instead of the 6- to 8-inch incision through the sternum (breastbone) required for traditional surgery. 1
Because it relies on traditional minimally invasive surgical technology, this approach has limitations and is not often appropriate for more complex cardiac procedures.
The least invasive approach to cardiac surgery, the “keyhole” approach or port-access technique used in da Vinci Surgery, is available for some types of cardiac and thoracic procedures like mitral valve repair and coronary artery bypass.
Benefits of Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
The potential benefits of all types of minimally invasive heart surgery may include:
- A smaller incision
- A smaller scar
Other possible benefits1 of a minimally invasive heart surgery may include:
- Reduced risk of infection
- Less bleeding with minimally invasive heart surgery
- Less pain and trauma
- Decreased length of stay in the hospital after the procedure: Hospital stay may be as little as 3 to 5 days after minimally invasive surgery, while the hospital stay after traditional heart surgery may be 5 days or longer
- Decreased recovery time: Recovery time after minimally invasive heart surgery may be 2 to 4 weeks, while the recovery time after traditional heart surgery may be 6 to 8 weeks or more.
Types of minimally invasive cardiovascular surgeries include:
- Valve surgery (e.g. mitral valve repair)
- Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery
- Epicardial lead placement: placement of leads for biventricular pacemakers (cardiac resynchronization therapy)
- Atrial fibrillation
Learn more about about the use of the da Vinci ® Surgical System for minimally invasive mitral valve repair. To find a da Vinci cardiothoracic surgeon, use our surgeon locator.
While clinical studies support the effectiveness of the da Vinci® System when used in minimally invasive surgery, individual results may vary. Surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System may not be appropriate for every individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.