What is Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery used for?
Minimally invasive heart surgery is used to treat a variety of heart conditions including closing a hole in the heart (such as atrial septal defect or patent foramen ovale), atrioventricular septal defect surgery, maze procedure for atrial fibrillation, heart valve repair or replacement, and surgery to remove tumors from the heart. Compared with traditional open-heart surgery, minimally invasive heart surgery often results in less pain, blood loss, infection risk, time needing a breathing tube, time spent in the hospital, and faster recovery with smaller scars.
How to prepare for Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery?
Before minimally invasive heart surgery, your care team will provide you with instructions and guidance on how to prepare for the procedure. This typically includes:
- Pre-operative clearance: Your health care team will assess your overall health and medical history to ensure you're fit for surgery. You may need to undergo certain tests, such as blood tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), or chest X-ray.
- Medication management: You may be advised to stop taking certain medications, such as blood thinners, before the surgery. Your health care team will provide specific instructions on managing your medications.
- Fasting: You will likely need to fast for a period of time before the surgery, typically after midnight on the day of the procedure.
- Hair removal: You may need to have some hair shaved in the areas where the surgery will take place.
- Skin preparation: Your skin will be washed with special soap to reduce the risk of infection.
- Advance directive: Your care team may discuss an advance directive with you, which is a legal document that outlines your preferences for medical treatment in case you're unable to express your wishes during the surgery.
- Arranging for assistance: Talk to your family or caregiver about your hospital stay and the help you'll need when you return home.
It's essential to follow your health care team's instructions and guidelines carefully to ensure a successful surgery and a smooth recovery.
How is Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery conducted?
Minimally invasive heart surgery is conducted by making small incisions between the ribs of the chest to reach the heart. The surgeon uses special tools with a small video camera placed through one of the incisions to visualize the internal structures and perform the surgery. There are two main types of minimally invasive heart surgery: robot-assisted heart surgery and thoracoscopic surgery. In both cases, the goal is to reduce pain, scarring, and recovery time compared to traditional open-heart surgery. Risks of minimally invasive heart surgery include bleeding, infection, arrhythmias, stroke, and death. It is essential to discuss the procedure, its risks, and benefits with your care team before the surgery.
How are Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery results reported?
Minimally invasive heart surgery results are typically reported based on the specific condition being treated. For example, the surgery may be performed to close a hole in the heart, repair or replace a heart valve, or remove tumors from the heart. In each case, the surgery's success in addressing the particular condition will be reported.
The benefits of minimally invasive heart surgery compared to open-heart surgery can also be reported. These may include less blood loss, lower risk of infection, less pain, shorter time needing a breathing tube, shorter hospital stay, and faster recovery. However, the exact reporting format may vary depending on the individual case and the healthcare team's evaluation criteria.
Understanding the report
Minimally invasive heart surgery results are interpreted in terms of how well the procedure addresses the underlying heart condition, the patient's recovery process, and any complications that may arise. After the surgery, the care team monitors the patient's progress, assesses their ability to perform daily activities, and considers the overall success of the procedure. Regular health checkups are necessary to evaluate the heart's functioning and ensure the patient's long-term health. Patients are typically advised to follow a heart-healthy lifestyle, which may include maintaining a healthy diet, engaging in regular exercise, managing stress, and avoiding smoking or using tobacco.