Minimally Invasive Heart Surgeries: Advantage and limitations

Cardiac Surgery | by Dr. Manoj Kumar Daga | Published on 08/03/2022

Are you suffering from heart problems? And your cardiologist has recommended heart surgery for you. If you are scared of undergoing open-heart surgery, then you might have an alternative option for your heart called Minimally invasive heart surgery(MIHS). These days it is widely opted by patients to tackle a variety of heart conditions. Cardiac issues can be life-threatening if left untreated. Before you undergo such a procedure, here are a few things you need to know about minimally invasive heart surgeries. In this blog, we are going to discuss the same with the best cardiologist in Kolkata.

Understanding- Minimally invasive heart surgery(MIHS)

Another name for this surgery is Keyhole surgery or minimally invasive cardiac surgery(MICS). Rather than cutting through the breastbone as in open-heart surgery, minimally invasive heart surgery entails making small incisions in the right side of the chest to reach the heart between the ribs. For many people, this form of surgery may result in less pain and a faster recovery than open-heart surgery.

Heart surgeries performed through MICS-

There are multiple heart conditions treated by Minimally invasive heart surgery including-

• Valve replacement surgeries like Aortic or Mitral valve replacement
• Congenital anomalies like Atrial septal defect or Patent ductus arteriosus(PDA)
• Coronary artery bypass surgery
• Graft tissue harvest from the saphenous vein for CABG(Coronary Artery Bypass Graft)

Above mentioned conditions are previously used to be treated through traditional open-heart surgery.

Am I a good candidate for MIHS?

As per the eminent heart doctor in Kolkata, not all patients can undergo such a procedure. Based on the following factors, your surgeon will decide whether MIHS will be a good option for your heart or not.

• Your age
• Type of cardiac surgery you need
• Kind of heart disease you are suffering from
• The severity of the disease
• Past medical history
• Overall health condition
• Medications you are taking currently
• Based on your lifestyle
• And whether you will be able to follow the postoperative instructions or not.

What are the benefits of MIHS?

There are various benefits of MIHS over conventional open-heart surgery including-

• Smaller incision
• Less scarring
• Less pain
• Lesser chances of developing an infection after surgery
• Faster recovery
• Shorter hospital stay
• Less bleeding
• Lesser need for blood transfusion
• Less trauma as no need for opening of the chest or cutting of bones
• You can return to daily activities or get back to work within a lesser time, hence financial loss will be reduced.

Are there any limitations for MIHS?

According to our experts practicing in the best cardiac center in Kolkata, “although the advantages of minimally invasive surgery exceed the downsides, it's still important to be aware of the drawbacks” which include-

• The overall cost of the procedure is high
• This requires expensive advanced medical equipment
• Surgeons require specialty training
• Most recent surgeries may need a longer time
• Not easily affordable for all

Though the insurance can cut the cost out partially, you should talk to your doctor and insurer as well.

How will be my life after MIHS?

-You may notice an improvement in your quality of life as well as reduced symptoms of your cardiac issue.

-you can resume normal activities like working, driving, and exercising

-You'll need to see your doctor on a frequent basis.

-You may need to undergo many tests to keep track of your condition.

-You'll be told to exercise, eat a healthy diet, manage your stress, and stay away from tobacco. -Even after heart surgery, cardiac rehabilitation, will be prescribed to assist you to improve your health and recovery.

Conclusion- if you are in need of surgery and would like to get treatment from our eminent heart doctor in Kolkata, you can avail of from our doctors who are well-versed in the latest cutting-edge minimally invasive heart surgery techniques.