Minimal Invasive Valve Repair / Replacement Surgery
Minimally Invasive Valve Repair/Replacement Surgery is a surgical approach used to treat diseased heart valves without the need for a large incision in the chest. Traditional valve surgeries typically require opening the chest by cutting through the breastbone (sternotomy), but minimally invasive techniques use smaller incisions, which can lead to quicker recovery and less postoperative pain.
Purpose of Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery
The surgery is intended to treat malfunctioning heart valves that are:
- Stenotic (narrowed), which restricts blood flow.
- Regurgitant (leaky), which allows blood to flow backward.
Minimally invasive approaches are used for both valve repair (fixing the patient’s own valve) and valve replacement (replacing it with an artificial or biological valve). The surgery is often performed for patients with mitral, aortic, or tricuspid valve issues who are suitable candidates for this approach.
Advantages of Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery
- Reduced Recovery Time: Smaller incisions result in less trauma, allowing patients to recover more quickly and return to normal activities sooner than traditional open surgery.
- Less Postoperative Pain: Patients often experience less pain after surgery since there’s no sternum to heal.
- Lower Risk of Infection: Smaller incisions reduce the risk of infection compared to larger, open surgical wounds.
- Shorter Hospital Stay: Most patients have shorter hospital stays, reducing overall healthcare costs.
- Cosmetic Benefits: Smaller scars are less noticeable and are preferred by many patients for cosmetic reasons.
- Preserved Chest Stability: With the sternum intact, chest stability is preserved, reducing the risk of complications related to sternal healing.
Who Is a Candidate?
Minimally invasive valve surgery is suitable for many patients, but not all. Factors such as the type and severity of valve disease, other heart or lung conditions, age, and overall health determine if a patient is eligible. Advanced imaging and preoperative assessments are used to evaluate whether a minimally invasive approach is feasible and safe.
