Benefits of minimally invasive heart procedures vs. surgery
Many heart procedures can be done without open-heart surgery, leading to less pain and a quicker recovery for patients. Other advantages to minimally invasive heart procedures include:
- Shorter hospital stays
- Lower risk of infection
- Lower risk of bleeding
- Fewer side effects and complications
- Less trauma
- Decreased need for pain medications
- Quicker return to normal activity
- Improved quality of life
- Less scarring
Your physician will determine whether you’re a candidate for a minimally invasive procedure based on your unique situation. Some procedures, such as bypass surgery, currently cannot be performed as a minimally invasive surgery. However, advances are being made in robotic-assisted bypass surgery.
Because of the many benefits of minimally invasive surgeries vs. open surgeries, physicians are continually participating in clinical trials to find more opportunities to offer this treatment. Clinical trials are scientific studies that determine whether a new medical device or treatment is safe and effective.
Five years ago, patients with severe aortic stenosis who were too sick for open surgery had no other treatment options available. Now, because of successful clinical trials, physicians can perform trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to replace the aortic valve through a catheter-based procedure.
With minimally invasive surgeries such as TAVR, patients who previously didn’t have these treatment options now have a chance at treatment and a longer life.
Recommended review by a cardiologist
Visit our Heart and Vascular Care page for more information about heart services at Baptist, or find a physician by visiting our Find a Doctor page.