What Are the Advantages of Minimal Invasive Mitral Valve Replacement?
Minimal invasive mitral valve replacement offers many advantages over open heart surgery, which involves cutting the sternum. Minimal invasive valve replacement performed through the armpit is one of the most advantageous methods for patients, particularly because it involves smaller incisions. These advantages can be listed as follows:
Minimally invasive mitral valve replacement is a surgical procedure performed to repair or replace the mitral valve. Unlike traditional open heart surgery, the sternum is not cut in this method. The heart is accessed through a small incision made in the armpit.
Small Incisions: Mitral valve replacement performed with minimally invasive surgery is done with small 6-8 cm incisions without cutting the sternum. This means less damage to tissues and organs. There is less blood loss during and after surgery.
Faster Recovery Process: Patients who recover earlier in intensive care after surgery can begin to take care of their own needs without assistance on the first day of ward follow-up. On the third day after surgery, our patients begin to move freely and perform activities such as sitting up, lying down, using the toilet, and changing their clothes without assistance. The recovery and discharge process for patients is faster compared to open heart surgery. Patients return to their daily activities, social and sexual lives more quickly. They can drive their own vehicles after the first week of surgery.
Less Pain: Not cutting the sternum significantly reduces postoperative pain.
Less Aesthetic Concerns: Incisions made under the armpits usually leave smaller scars. Therefore, patients have fewer aesthetic concerns. In fact, patients may even have difficulty seeing their own scars.
Lower Risk of Infection: Smaller incisions heal faster and reduce the risk of infection.
Suitability for Elderly and High-Risk Patients: It is a much less risky method than the traditional method for elderly patients and those with high risk factors.
Overcoming the psychology of illness earlier and returning to social life and work sooner: One of the important advantages for patients undergoing minimally invasive heart surgery is that they return to work earlier and overcome the psychology of illness sooner.
Minimally invasive mitral valve replacement through the armpit offers many more advantages compared to traditional open heart surgery. You can consult your Cardiovascular Surgery Specialist to find out which treatment method is more suitable for you and begin the treatment process.
