What Are The Benefits Of Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair Surgery
minimally invasive mitral valve repairPatients with heart valve problems may qualify for minimally invasive mitral valve repair. If they do, they will enjoy a number of benefits they would have missed out on if they had been scheduled for standard heart surgery.
Eliminating the need for median sternotomy (an incision into or through the sternum) will reduce a lot of the trauma generally associated with open-chest surgery. Patients receiving minimally invasive mitral valve repair will heal quicker because:
• There is no need to split the breastbone
• They will experience less pain
• The risk of infection is reduced
• There will be less complications due to bleeding
• They will spend less time in the ICU and hospital
• The postoperative pulmonary function will improve vastly
• Their recovery will be accelerated
• They will be able to return to their daily activities faster
• Their quality of life will improve much quicker
• They will have a smaller scar
Patients undergoing minimally invasive mitral valve repair generally recover much quicker than those who need invasive cardiac surgery. Unfortunately, not everyone diagnosed with a heart valve disease qualifies for minimally invasive mitral valve repair treatment. Individuals with a weak heart and those in need of additional surgical heart procedures will be disqualified.
Minimally invasive cardiac surgery will dramatically improve cosmetic results. Instead of having a 10-inch scar down the middle of the chest, patients only have to deal with a 2-4 inch, less visible incision on the side of their chest. Many women will not even notice their scar as it will be right underneath the breast.
A lot of patients recuperating from minimally invasive mitral valve repair surgery require minimal assistance during their recovery time. They will be able to return to normal activities much faster than those who had invasive open-chest surgery. Strong patients can even return to the gym for a light work-out just two weeks after the repair procedure. The more active patients are, the faster they will recover.