Endoscopic Heart Surgery
Endoscopic heart surgery represents one of the minimally invasive medical interventions, as it depends on making a small surgical incision in the chest to insert surgical instruments and the endoscope, to reach the heart without the need to open the rib cage bone or remove part of the ribs.
The endoscope is a long tube containing a video camera that ensures seeing the heart clearly. Therefore, the doctor does not need to cut the sternum and make large surgical incisions in the chest to reach the heart.
Therefore, minimally invasive surgical interventions involve many advantages compared to traditional heart surgery, such as causing less pain, no need for a long hospital stay after the operation, short recovery and convalescence period after the operation, and low risk of post-operative complications.
Although endoscopic heart surgery is an alternative to open-heart surgery in treating some heart problems and diseases, it is not suitable for all heart diseases.
Some cases are better suited for traditional open-heart surgery than endoscopic heart surgery. The appropriate type of operation is chosen based on several factors, such as the patient’s health status and medical history, evaluation of the medical staff who will perform the surgery, and the type of surgery and its degree of difficulty.
Off-Pump Heart Surgery
The idea of off-pump heart surgery depends on performing heart operations without the need to stop the heart and use a cardiopulmonary bypass machine.
It is an advanced surgical technique performed without stopping the heart, and the heart continues to beat during the operation, thus reducing the risk percentage associated with heart stoppage.
It must be noted that off-pump heart operation requires special skills from the medical staff and advanced preparation of the operating room. The surgeon and the medical staff must enjoy the skill and find the use of techniques for off-pump heart surgery.
Off-pump heart surgery is used in treating heart valve narrowing diseases and atherosclerosis. The patient undergoes a comprehensive examination, and heart and blood vessel functions are examined to know the extent of suitability of this type of surgery for them.
Closed-Heart Surgery
The concept of closed-heart surgery is scientifically known as surgical operations in which the heart is not stopped, because it is the opposite of the concept of open-heart surgery in which the heart and lungs are stopped and the patient is connected to the pump that acts as the heart and lungs.
While the common concept among people is that closed-heart surgery is surgical operations performed through small incisions at the armpit from the lateral chest wall, unlike open-heart surgery which is performed through making a large surgical incision and cutting the front chest bone.
Thus, closed-heart surgery is applied to minimally invasive surgical techniques. For example, closed-heart surgery for coronary artery bypass, depending on the number of vessels, the bypass surgery is performed through small incisions under the breast 7-8 cm.
In general, closed-heart surgery can be performed for young and old patients as well, but closed-heart surgery may not be suitable for the following cases:
- Advanced lung patients.
- Cases of heart valve replacement or repair.
- Cases in which heart valve surgery must be performed along with coronary artery bypass surgery side by side.
Closed-heart surgery is suitable in the following cases:
- Coronary artery bypass surgeries.
- Pericardial membrane tumor surgeries around the heart.
- Some cases of repairing congenital heart defects in children such as patent ductus arteriosus ligation or repairing narrowing in the descending aorta in the chest, as well as endoscopic heart hole operation to close congenital openings between heart chambers.
Endoscopic Open-Heart Surgery
Endoscopic open-heart surgery is an advanced surgical procedure, and this operation combines traditional open-heart technique and the use of a surgical endoscope. Endoscopic open-heart operations are also known as minimally invasive heart surgery, for being dependent on small incisions instead of full opening of the chest.
The general idea of endoscopic open-heart operation depends on making a small surgical incision in the chest to insert small surgical instruments and a miniature video camera, allowing the doctor to view the heart and blood vessels accurately.
The heart is temporarily stopped and connected to a cardiopulmonary bypass machine to continue the blood flow process during the operation.
In some cases, endoscopic heart surgery can be an alternative to open-heart surgery during the treatment of some heart diseases and problems.
But this does not happen for all heart diseases, because there are some cases for which endoscopic open-heart operation is not suitable, but traditional open-heart operation is more suitable for them.
There are factors based on which the appropriate type of operation is chosen, including:
- The health status of the patient and their medical history.
- The type of surgery and its degree of difficulty.
- The extent of efficiency and skill of the medical team performing the surgery.
There is a large number of candidates for performing endoscopic open-heart surgery, who are those suffering from heart diseases that require urgent medical intervention to treat them, such as those infected with the following cases:
- Aortic valve problems.
- Congenital heart defects.
- Obstruction in coronary heart arteries.
How Long Does Heart Endoscopy Operation Take?
The duration of heart endoscopy operation differs according to the type of heart problem and the nature of the medical procedure. But in general, endoscopic heart surgery may take about 3 to 4 hours approximately.
Also, the recovery period from the operation takes about two weeks, which is amazing compared to the recovery period from traditional open-heart surgery which may exceed three months.
Endoscopic Heart Valve Replacement Operation
Endoscopic valve replacement operation is one of the best techniques used to replace a damaged valve, to treat cases of regurgitation or narrowing in the valve. It is known briefly as endoscopic heart valve operation.
Minimally invasive surgeries have replaced traditional open-heart surgery in which chest incision occurs. Also, endoscopic heart valve replacement operation enjoys high success and safety rates reaching 98%.
In endoscopic heart valve replacement operation, the patient undergoes general anesthesia, then the doctor makes a small surgical incision whose length does not exceed 5 cm in the middle of the chest next to the sternum or under the clavicle.
Then, the doctor inserts the endoscope and surgical instruments through the surgical incision to replace the damaged valve with another metal or tissue valve.
After installing the new valve, the doctor closes the small wound, then places a catheter to drain the fluids that accumulate around the heart.
Endoscopic heart valve replacement operation is characterized by a small amount of blood lost during the operation, and that the hospital stay after the operation is short, as well as being characterized by fast recovery after the operation.
Endoscopic valve replacement operation takes between 2-4 hours, then the patient moves after the operation to the intensive care room to remain under observation for 24 hours, and then moves to a regular stay room.
The patient stays in the hospital after endoscopic heart valve replacement operation for a period ranging between 3-7 days during which the patient’s vital functions are monitored, and an Echo scan is performed for them to be reassured about their heart health.
When the patient improves and when they leave the hospital, the doctor gives them some instructions regarding wound care and returning to normal activity.
Is Heart Endoscopy Operation Dangerous?
The use of the endoscope in heart surgery increases the safety and accuracy of the operation, compared to traditional surgery. In addition to that, it helps the patient feel less pain, and recovery becomes faster.
This enables the patient to return to their daily and practical life faster. It also helps reduce the stay period in intensive care units, and reduce the number of days spent in the hospital after the operation.
It is worth noting that the endoscopy technique increases the success rate of surgery for patients, especially the elderly who suffer from other diseases which may expose them to great risk.
In conclusion of this article, Professor Dr. Mohamed El-Ghannam, Consultant of Open-Heart Surgery and Minimally Invasive Surgical Intervention, indicates that endoscopic heart operation and using minimally invasive surgical intervention represents amazing progress in the field of cardiovascular surgery.
And that it is characterized by improving heart operation results, and also works on reducing potential complications as well as reducing recovery time.
Endoscopic heart surgery has provided a final solution for patients who suffer from problems in arteries, valves, and other common heart problems. You can now book with Dr. Mohamed El-Ghannam and consult the best heart surgery professor doctor in Egypt.
