Addressing Common Cardiovascular Concerns Via Minimally Invasive Procedures

February 08, 2021 Posted in: Blogs , English

When most people think about heart procedures, they often imagine open-heart surgery. However, minimally invasive procedures can repair many common cardiovascular concerns with small incisions.

Some of these procedures are enabled by the catheter. This is a thin tube that can thread through arteries in the leg, arm or groin and reach the inside of the heart. Doctors typically use the catheter to diagnose cardiovascular conditions, but it can also be used to repair cardiac problems. Using a catheter, doctors can:

Open blocked arteries with angioplasty,
Remove blood clots with thrombectomy, or
Correct irregular heart rhythms with ablation.

Minimally invasive procedures have gained popularity as less traumatic alternatives because they require few minor incisions and allow surgeons to work with cameras and scopes inside the body. These procedures can have real benefits for eligible patients.

How minimally invasive surgery works

A surgeon first makes three or four incisions that are no longer than 3 to 4 inches long - much smaller than the 6 to 8 inches required for open-heart surgery - in the chest to gain access to the heart through openings between the ribs.

There are two options for an electrophysiological procedure (EP): catheter ablation or AV node ablation. In either situation, the surgeon inserts a catheter to create scarring to correct electrical impulses.

Common minimally invasive cardiac procedures

A number of common cardiovascular operations can benefit from robotic support.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG): this treatment for coronary artery disease (CAD) involves a surgeon removing a healthy artery or vein and attaching it to the coronary artery to bypass a blockage and improve blood flow.
Mitral Valve Repair: a surgeon either inserts a ring or other device to the valve, strengthening it or removing unnecessary tissue and reshaping the valve.
Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: this procedure uses a catheter to remove irregular or faulty electrical signals in the heart which cause irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias).

Advantages of robotic surgery

Since robotic procedures require only a few small incisions, the patient often experiences many advantages, including:

Significantly less pain
Less blood loss
A lower risk of infection
Less scarring
A shorter recovery time
A faster return to normal daily activities

With minimally invasive surgery, patients experience significantly less tissue trauma and shorter recovery times. At St. Joseph Health, we use advanced technology that is very intuitive.

St. Joseph Health was the first health system to bring heart care to the Central Texas region, and we continue to develop innovative advancements in cardiac care. With advanced heart surgery suites and an unmatched team of experts, we offer surgical treatments for even the most complex cases. And when traditional heart surgery isn't an option, we find new solutions. Schedule a one-on-one consultation today.