Rapid advancement of medical technology and surgical solutions has been helping heart patients find faster and easier relief to their heart conditions. Minimally invasive cardiac surgeries belong to the advanced category of surgical solutions that are now being leveraged by heart surgeons in India to successfully treat wide variety of heart condition with high success rate, less complications and faster recovery.

Minimally invasive heart surgery procedures in Telangana has made rapid stride in last 10 years. Less surgical trauma, better benefit/cost ratio, speedy recovery and return to normalcy have made minimally invasive heart surgeries, a boon to all types of heart patients. Yet there seems to be need to raise awareness about minimally invasive heart surgeries.

We are often posed flurry of questions on minimal invasive heart surgeries on our social media platforms. So here we have picked most frequently asked questions for leading minimal access heart surgeon in India Dr Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale to answer. Check them out.

What is minimally invasive cardiac surgery?

Traditionally all major heart surgeries like coronary artery bypass surgery, valve repair or replacement surgery and closure of holes in the heart are performed from a big cut on the front of the heart by splitting breast bone vertically and stopping the heart using an artificial heart-lung machine. While this approach saved lives of millions of patients, it is also associated with need for prolonged rest and restriction of activities and taking more pain medications and in some, development of major infections and big scars and significant bleeding needing multiple transfusions of blood products.

In the last couple of decades, developments in technology made it possible to do majority of heart surgeries either on a beating heart without using heart-lung machine (ex: bypass surgery on beating heart) or through small incisions on the side of chest below the nipple without splitting the breast bone (ex: valve repair or replacement surgeries, closure of birth holes in the heart, minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery) or sometimes splitting breast bone partially only through small incision (ex: aortic valve replacement) or a combination of these. Put together, these type of surgeries are collectively called minimally invasive heart surgeries as there is a smaller incision with less complications.

Types of minimally invasive heart surgery

1. Partial sternotomy – Through a small incision on the front of chest and splitting the breast bone only partially. We can perform valve replacement surgeries and closure of some defects in heart.
2. MICAB –  Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass. Through a small incision below left nipple, chest is entered through intercostal space and bypass surgeries are done on beating heart. Best for one or two grafts.
3. OPCAB – Off Pump Coronary Artery Bypass. In this procedure bypass surgery is done on a berating heart without stopping it and using heart –lung machine.
4. Keyhole surgeries – Through small incision on the right side of chest below the nipple, valve repair or replacement surgeries or closure of holes in the heart like atrial septal defect can be done.
5. Thoracotomy CABG – Multiple bypass surgeries can be done on heart safely, approaching heart from left side of chest below nipple and stopping heart using heart-lung machine
6. Robotic assisted heart surgeries – This is the latest addition to the family of minimally invasive surgeries. With the help of DaVinci robot, left internal mammary or both right and left internal mammary arteries can be harvested and similarly mitral and aortic valves can be replaced/repaired and birth defects of heart like atrial septal defect can be closed. Advantages being smaller incisions, less pain and quick recovery and back to normal work in 2-3 weeks.

In addition to the above minimally invasive mitral valve surgery, minimally invasive valve replacement, minimally invasive aortic valve replacement are some of the commonly performed minimally invasive heart surgeries in Hyderabad.

What are the benefits of minimally invasive heart surgeries over traditional open heart surgeries?

Unlike traditional open heart procedures where a very large incision is made to access the heart, minimally invasive heart surgery involves a tiny incisions of 2-3 inches. Traditional open heart surgeries is many cases has to leverage heart-lung machine to continue the function of which is not necessary in minimally invasive heart surgery procedures.

Minimally invasive heart surgeries due to their tiny incisions result in reduced trauma, pain and much lesser blood less. Smaller and less noticeable scares translate to lower risk of infections, faster recovery and return to normal activities.

What is the cost of minimally invasive cardiac surgery in Telangana?

Generally these cost about 1-1.5 lakhs Indian rupees more than regular heart surgeries.

Who is the right candidate for minimally invasive heart surgery?

Although majority of heart patients are suitable for minimally invasive heart surgeries, they are particularly a boon to patients who cannot handle long and arduous open heart surgery owing to its long recovery period and complication risk. However only an expert heart surgeon can recommend the right surgical procedure for a heart patient. If you are looking for more information in minimally invasive heart surgeries, you can reach out leading minimal access heart surgeon in India, Padma Shri Awardee Dr Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale here: @Call 9603040506