Laparoscopic heart surgery, Traditional open-heart surgery is no longer the only option for patients who suffer from heart problems and require heart surgery. Rather, it has now become possible to perform endoscopic heart surgery, which is called minimally invasive surgery. These are modern techniques that have been able to provide greater levels of safety and security for the patient. .
What are the types of heart operations?
In the event that there is a heart problem that requires surgical intervention, there are a number of surgical options that can be used, but the treating physician is the one who decides the type of surgery appropriate for the patient according to several factors, including the type of heart problem that the patient suffers from, his health condition, and whether he has previously performed other operations. In the heart by…and others, and those options include:
- Open heart surgery: It is a complex surgery, after which the patient needs approximately a month or two to recover and heal his large chest cleft.
- Laparoscopic surgery is called minimally invasive surgery: These are modern techniques that have been used to perform cardiac operations through a small incision in the chest, through which an endoscope is inserted, and then the heart problem is accessed and repaired.
- Beating heart surgery It may be suitable for some cases of blocked coronary arteries, as it does not require stopping the heartbeat during the procedure.
Laparoscopic heart surgery
Minimally invasive techniques using a cardio scope aim to perform heart surgeries through a small incision in the right side of the chest, instead of the large incision in the chest that is used when performing open-heart surgery. The length of this incision does not exceed 5 cm, and through it the endoscope is inserted into the heart. Then, we reach the site of the heart problem and perform the appropriate repair in the heart and arteries.
Endoscopy is considered a pioneering breakthrough in cardiovascular surgery, as it has helped to perform many cardiovascular surgeries with the highest levels of safety, such as surgery on heart valves and blockages of the coronary arteries, endoscopically without opening the chest. Note that the laparoscopic surgery takes only 3 to 4 hours, after which the transfer is performed. The patient is taken to the care room, to monitor his health condition and vital rates. He recovers within a few days or a week, then returns to his normal life.
Advantages of laparoscopic heart surgery
Endoscopic and minimally invasive heart surgery techniques have many advantages, including:
- Using a small incision in the chest instead of the large incision used in open heart surgery.
- The patient no longer needs to wear a chest belt or adhere to a specific position while sleeping.
- The possibility of returning to normal life after a short period of cardiovascular surgery.
- The recovery period takes a week, while in open heart surgery it takes a month and a half.
- It does not cause large scars and wounds and thus maintains the beautiful appearance of the patient’s body.
- The patient is less likely to experience bleeding, wound infections, or infection.
- Patients experience much less pain after laparoscopic heart surgery than wound healing pain after open heart surgery.
What operations can be performed laparoscopically?
There are many operations that can be performed laparoscopically, including:
- Laparoscopic mitral valve replacement surgery.
- Aortic valve replacement surgery.
- Mitral valve repair or replacement
- Tricuspid valve repair or replacement
- Laparoscopic surgery to repair atrial septal defects.
- Repairing some congenital heart defects.
- Repairing cases of atrial fibrillation.
- Coronary artery bypass grafting procedure.
- Closing of the holes in the heart between the atria.
How can I prepare for laparoscopic heart surgery?
- Laparoscopic heart surgery is performed under general anesthesia in the hospital, and therefore requires the patient to fast for 8 hours beforehand.
- It is necessary to discuss with the doctor all medications and treatments that the patient is taking before performing a minimally invasive heart operation.
- The patient must do some tests and blood tests before the operation to ensure his safety.
- You should generally stop smoking and drinking alcohol before surgical procedures.
- The patient should not be afraid of laparoscopic heart surgery, as it often achieves the highest safety rate.
Is endoscopic heart surgery safe?
Professor Dr. Muhammad Al-Ghannam, Consultant in Cardiothoracic Surgery and Limited Invasive Surgery, confirms that the safety rate of laparoscopic heart surgery is 98% and that it is performed in specialized centers, and at the hands of a skilled medical team and an elite group of cardiothoracic surgeons who have extensive experience using endoscopic technology and performing surgeries. Heart and arteries. He points out that endoscopic heart operations protect the patient from many risks and provide higher safety rates for him.
Is laparoscopic heart surgery suitable for all patients?
It should be noted that despite the high safety rate of using laparoscopy in heart surgery, it is not suitable for all patients, and that the treating doctor is able to determine the most appropriate surgical method for the patient, taking into account many factors, including:
- The patient’s health condition and whether he suffers from other diseases.
- Has he had a heart operation previously because these patients are not suitable for endoscopic heart surgery.
- Some cases of patients with weak or enlarged heart muscle may not be suitable for this procedure either.
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What are the disadvantages of laparoscopic heart surgery?
Like all surgical interventions, endoscopic heart surgery carries some risks, including:
- Infection.
- Bleeding occurs.
- A very rare side effect is stroke.
- The possibility of a disturbance in the patient’s heart rhythm.
In conclusion, laparoscopic heart surgery is considered one of the latest and best technologies that have contributed to the treatment of many heart diseases, especially for patients who are afraid of traditional open-heart surgery.
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