Keyhole Surgery

Minimally invasive heart surgery

Being told you need heart surgery can understandably cause considerable anxiety. On the one hand, there is the fear that without intervention your health will be seriously compromised, yet the alternative is a major procedure with inherent risks attached. Fortunately, heart surgery has improved enormously since it was first performed in the early 1950s and patients can now expect to feel better and live for longer following their operation with minimal risk.

In recent years, further advances in heart surgery have occurred that can reduce complications and enhance patient recovery.

The traditional procedure

Heart surgery is typically done through a cut down the middle of the chest, including a full cut through the breastbone. While most patients tolerate this very well, it can take around 12 weeks or more before the wound is completely healed. This can seriously delay a return to normal activities.

These days, it is often possible to avoid such invasive options and, depending on your specific case, your procedure may be appropriate for keyhole surgery.

Keyhole techniques

For appropriate patients, keyhole heart surgery is available at The Harley Street Clinic that can produce improvements in recovery time for patients, as well as offering cosmetic benefits.

A much smaller wound means less surrounding tissue damage, often without any broken bone, which in turn can lead to faster recovery, sometimes in just 10 days. In this situation, patients will often spend less time in hospital, and can return to their normal activities quicker. In addition, the keyhole surgery option results in significantly less scarring for a better cosmetic outcome. Keyhole techniques can also create benefits for healthcare in general by reducing the burden of supportive treatment required following normal heart surgery.

How is keyhole surgery performed?

The minimally invasive surgery is performed using the most sophisticated technology currently available, which allows the surgeon to carry out the procedure remotely using small surgical instruments. The surgeon is able to monitor every move on a video screen, as pictures are broadcast to the screen from a tiny digital camera inserted through the side of the chest. The surgeon also has at his disposal a robot capable of maneuvering the camera and holding it perfectly still.

Will there be any side effects?

Possible complications following keyhole surgery are the same as for open chest surgery. However, these procedures do require considerable experience from the surgical team and case selection is important. Under these circumstances, keyhole procedures can offer distinct advantages over traditional approaches.

Is Keyhole Surgery right for me?

You may be suitable for keyhole surgery if you have any of the following conditions:

• Disease of your heart valves.
• Disease of your coronary arteries.
• Heart rhythm abnormalites such as atrial fibrillation.
• A hole in the heart (atrial septal defect).
• You have previously undergone open heart surgery where a keyhole procedure may now be safer than a repeat sternotomy.
• You would like a better and more appealing cosmetic result.