Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) is a surgery whereby the surgeon performs the heart operation through a small incision on the side of chest in between the ribs, as opposed to a conventional, open heart surgery. The surgery option is only offered for suitable patient’s cases, such as those who require a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) or valve cardiac surgery.
Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) may not necessarily be an appropriate treatment option for every patient. For examples, patients who have other serious medical conditions or lung disease, a small rib cage or require other cardiac procedures, are not suitable to go for a minimally invasive surgery. MICS is also generally not performed for complex cases that require a combination or multiple surgeries, such as a combined valve and CABG surgery.
It is important for patients to discuss with their doctors on their suitability for any treatment option.
Patients would have to undergo thorough assessment by our doctors to determine an appropriate treatment option to achieve the best outcome for patients.
There are a few conditions that preclude one from MICS such as severe peripheral vascular disease unable to connect to heart-lung machine), pulmonary disease or severe pulmonary hypertension (problem with single lung ventilation) and need for combined operations such as valves and coronary bypass surgery.
Those who lives an active lifestyle, or expected to have delayed chest bone healing if bone splitting was performed (osteoporosis or chronic steroid use) are the groups of patient who will benefit the most from MICS.
As compared to conventional cardiac surgery carried out through sternotomy, Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) has multiple established benefits such as reduced need for blood transfusion, reduced length of hospitalisation stay and cost, faster recovery and better patient satisfactory from improved cosmetic result.
In MICS, there is no luxury of having an unrestricted visual on the surgical field and tactile feedback. A successful MICS hinges on careful pre-operative planning and mastery of using long instruments, aided by using endoscope for visual improvement.
Please follow the below instructions to prepare for your MICS:
Patients who have undergone a MICS will be warded for a few days or as long as they are needed for observation. Patients who have duly rested and have stable conditions will be arranged for discharge.
An electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor will continuously record the rhythm of the heart.
Physical therapy will slowly be introduced, to strengthen the patient with light physical activities.
Follow-up appointments for regular check-ups will also be arranged at NHCS.
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