Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery Experiences in a District Branch Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: With the development of technology and surgical experiences, minimally invasive approaches are getting more preferable by physicians. Also these smaller incisions provide patients to have higher life quality at the postoperative periods. In this study we aim to report our minimally invasive approach experiences. Patients and Method: In our clinic 10 patients was underwent open heart surgery with minimally invasive approaches between March 2010 and January 2014. Median age was 50,5±26 years (22 - 82 years). Six of them were female (%60). Four patients have had previous open heart surgery through standard sternotomy. Ministernotomy was performed for 4 patients, 5 patients' operations were done via right anterior minithoracotomy and one patient was operated via left anterior minithoracotomy. Results: Mean operation duration was 6,8±1,8 hours (4 - 10 hours) (from anesthesia induction to wound closure with sterile sponge). Only one patient was extubated in operating theatre. Early mortality (in postoperative 30 days) was seen on only one patient. One patient was admitted to hospital with wound complication and re-hospitalized for wound care. Discussion: With developments in cardiac surgery field, many disorders are repaired via minimally invasive techniques providing exposures as good as conventional approaches. In recent years, many clinics reported their experiences at these applications with excellent results. Minimally invasive cardiac surgery does not have worse mortality rates than standard techniques. However, it enables patients to return to their own normal activities, providing them with less wound complications.Conclusion: By increasing experiences, minimally invasive cardiac surgery may be considered in those appropriate patients and particularly in patients who care about their own appearances.