How to Get a Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement

Most patients who need open heart surgery are deeply concerned about the amount of time required to recover. They dread the prospect of a lengthy and miserable recovery and they even wonder if they will be able to be strong and independent again. These concerns can no longer apply to modern minimally invasive aortic valve replacement surgery. This article will bring you up to date on readily available less invasive surgical techniques to treat aortic valve disease. For almost four decades the only way to perform aortic valve surgery required a foot-long split of the breast bone in the middle of the chest (median sternotomy). Most laypeople will refer to that surgical approach as 'cracking the ribs'. A good and perfectly safe aortic valve replacement can be easily performed this way but the average sternotomy patient will need up to three months to recover and resume normal physical activity. Most cardiac surgery services will recommend not lifting more than 10-15 pounds and no driving to help the breast bone heal. Minimally invasive aortic valve surgery has radically changed the way a heart surgery patient recovers because of the following advances in the way this surgery is performed: No bone cutting. The surgical incision is placed in between the ribs. The surgical scar is only 2' long. The wound heals faster and has a lot less chances of infection because there is no bone involvement. A lot less pain. The surgical site is completely numb after surgery thanks to the injection of local anesthetic on the nerves between the ribs. The absence of early postoperative pain allows even the elderly and frail patients a short and uneventful stay in the recovery room. Most patients are on their feet within twenty-four hours. There is no need to recommend physical restrictions, including carrying weights and driving, because there is no broken bones to worry about. Great cosmetic advantage with a barely noticeable surgical scar that can often be hidden in the skin fold underneath the right breast. These techniques can be applied in the vast majority of patienrs requiring an aortic valve replacement. A word of caution is in order. Not every cardiac surgeon in the U.S. is able to offer these advanced techniques. If there is no local expertise in your town or state, you will only be offered the traditional bone splitting operation. There is plenty of reliable information online on these minimally invasive heart surgery techniques. Get more details about this less invasive heart surgery and demand it. Most reputable minimally invasive heart surgery centers are seeing a growing number of out-of-state patients that would rather travel than take no for an answer.