Surgical procedures performed in minimally invasive ways are distinguished by the small incision and specialized instruments and technology used to treat the heart. Incisions are 3 to 4 inches on average, about half that of traditional surgery. Smaller incisions mean quicker recovery and reduced scarring. Many patients also experience less pain, fewer medical complications, and a reduced need for post-surgical pain medication.
The surgeons of the Valley Columbia Heart Center are highly experienced in minimally invasive procedures and look forward to caring for you or your loved one. Please call us today at 201-447-8377 to learn how we can help you.
Procedures performed using minimally invasive methods include:
Valve Surgery
The most common valve procedures are valve repair and valve replacement, both done minimally at the Valley Columbia Heart Center. While most hospitals simply choose to replace valves, Valley’s surgeons have great skill in repairing the heart’s own valves. Both valve repair and replacement surgeries are performed by making a three to four inch incision in the sternum or on the side of the chest. Specialized instruments are used to reach the heart.
Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
Thanks to recent advancements, heart bypass surgery can be performed in a minimally invasive manner in a procedure called Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass (OPCAB), also known as off-pump surgery, or beating heart surgery. In tradtional bypass surgery (on-pump surgery), the heart is stopped and doctors utilize a heart-lung machine to stabilize the patient. But during the OPCAB, the heart continues to beat and surgeons can perform bypass surgery on all areas of the heart.
Click here to see a video of an off-pump procedure. A short movie will play showing a surgeon creating an anastomosis, or connection, between a vein and an artery.
Please note: The video is of an actual surgery taking place and may not be suitable for some individuals. You will need Flash Player 8 or higher to see the video. If the video does not play, click on the "Video requires..." line at the bottom of the window to install an updated Flash Player.
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CABG and OPCAB: A Quick Comparison
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CABG
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OPCAB
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Can treat multiple blockages
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Can treat multiple blockages
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Cannot be performed on the frail or elderly, patients with kidney disease or lung disease or those at high risk for stroke
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Can be performed on high-risk patients with multiple blockages
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Long vertical incision through breastbone
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Long vertical incision through breastbone
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Heart must be cooled and stilled; heart-lung machine used
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Performed on a beating heart,
without heart-lung machine
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General anesthesia required
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General anesthesia required
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Hospital stay: 7 days
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Hospital stay: 4–6 days
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Convalescence: 6–8 weeks
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Convalescence: 4–6 weeks
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Robotic-Assisted Surgery
These types of minimally invasive procedures are performed using long surgical instruments that are activated by a surgeon sitting at a state-of-the-art console near the patient. Incisions are very small, so small in many cases that only the thin robotic arms and equipment are able to enter through the incision. Inside the patient, the instruments mimic the moves as directed by the surgeon. At the Valley Columbia Heart Center, robotic-assisted surgical techniques can be used in select patients during these procedures:
- CABG surgery (with single-vessel disease)
- complex thoracic surgical procedures.
Your surgeon will determine if robotic surgery is the best approach for you. Valley uses the daVinci Surgical System from Intuitive Surgical.
Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS)
Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is a technique that involves three small incisions between the ribs. Physicians insert a laparoscope and other instruments through the incisions. While the scope magnifies and projects structures within the chest cavity onto a video monitor, surgeons complete the operation.
This minimally invasive procedure presents a sharp contrast to traditional open chest surgery, which involves a large incision, hospital stay of seven to 12 days, and months of recovery. VATS eliminates the need for large incisions, making it a kinder, gentler approach. Patients endure less trauma to the chest wall, experience far less pain, and require much less pain medication.
For more information, please call the Valley Columbia Heart Center at 201-447-8377.
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