Minimally invasive heart surgery helps prevent many complications thanks to its lower risk of infection and bleeding and the reduced need for blood transfusion.
The complications of the heart-lung machine used in conventional heart surgery are undeniable. Especially in older patients, the heart-lung machine can damage the kidneys, liver and lungs. When the heart is stopped and connected to the heart-lung machine, serious problems arise not only in the heart but in other organs as well: liver, lung and kidney failure and stroke can occur. Stroke occurs in about 2 out of every 100 standard heart operations. In minimally invasive operations on the beating heart, however, much better results can be achieved.
In minimally invasive beating-heart surgery, the heart-lung machine is not used and the heart is not stopped; only the area being operated on is stabilized, and the operation is performed this way. There are fewer problems after surgery and the patient recovers faster. Less blood is needed, and sometimes the operation can even be performed without a blood transfusion.
Information on this site is general and does not replace an examination by a doctor.