What is a minimally invasive cardiac surgery?

Top results in minimally invasive cardiac surgery, in VPS Lakeshore, Kochi, Kerala. Read more on the procedure here

Routine open heart surgery is done by cutting the entire breast bone (sternum) which is usually a 20 cm incision. In minimally invasive cardiac surgery, the incision is done around 4 to 6 cm through a right thoracotomy, left thoracotomy and partially cut the sternum.

What are the advantages of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery?

• Cosmetically appealing incision
• Less pain
• Less blood loss
• Short hospital stay
• Early return to work
• Less wound infection especially in diabetic patients and patients with osteoporotic sternum
• Equivalent results compared with the conventional technique

For which all conditions can we perform the Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery?

• Aortic valve replacement/repair
• Mitral valve repair/ replacement
• CABG
• LV lead placing
• ASD
• VSD
• Aortic root replacements (Bentall’s procedure) for asc Ao aneurysm
• AF maze procedure
• Tetrology of Fallot

Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery Cases done in Lakeshore Kochi, India 

Case 1

74 yr old male with symptomatic severe AS and uncontrolled diabetes underwent upper mini sternotomy AVR (Trifecta bioprosthesis). He was discharged on POD 5, post-op Echo mean gradient 9. The postop patient had early recovery with good wound healing with a small scar of 5cm.

Case 2

56yr old male with symptomatic severe MR, (AML chordal rupture) S/p PTCA for CAD Incision through a lower mini sternotomy. The patient underwent MV repair with neochordal placement with complete ring annuloplasty. The post-op patient made a good recovery, postop Echo- Trivial MR, discharged on POD 5 with good wound healing.

Case 3

60 yr old male with LAD proximal tight lesion underwent MIDCAB (LIMA-LAD) by left anerolateral thoracotomy. The patient made a good recovery and was discharged on POD 4.

Case 4

79 yr old female with severely calcific severe AS k/c/o Scleroderma on treatment (on steroids) underwent upper mini sternotomy AVR with a bioprosthesis. The patient had post-op early recovery with good wound healing and discharged on POD 5.

Case 5

44 yr old female from Kerala with stage IV b/l fungating Ca breast with repeated pericardial effusion causing severe tamponade. She underwent left mini lateral thoracotomy to create a pericardial window.

Dr. Sujith D S

Consultant - Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Surgery

VPS Lakeshore hospital