Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery

Minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery (MICS) has many benefits such as decreased pain and surgical trauma as it is performed only through many small incisions as opposed to the traditional open-heart surgery which requires a median sternotomy approach.
With innovations in refinement of transthoracic echocardiography, perfusion techniques and development of robotic technology and very specialized surgical instruments, cardiac surgery has progressed to less invasive procedures and approaches. In other words, it is a keyhole heart surgery done through a small incision using specialized surgical instruments.

As opposed to the 6- to 8-inch incision required for traditional surgery, this incision is only 3-4 inches long. Until the technology for minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) was developed, open heart surgery was the only option for surgeries such as heart valve repair or replacement, closure of holes in the heart, and bypass grafting.

MICS overcomes the associated problems of slow recovery and pain. MICS or keyhole bypass is for patients suffering from coronary artery diseases. Minimally invasive cardiac surgery involves shorter hospital length of stay, decreased blood loss, better cosmesis and improved postoperative pain.
In the minimally invasive heart surgery, one or more small incisions are made between the ribs. The surgical instruments with a tiny camera are inserted through this incision. They are connected to robotic arms that are controlled with a computerized device. This is for better manipulation of the instruments and performing the procedure precisely. The recovery period is 2 to 4 weeks with minimally invasive surgery than opposed to the 4 to 8 weeks of traditional surgery.