Max Hospital Announces Heart Bypass Through Ribs with No Bones Cut

By Tricitynews Reporter

Chandigarh 20^th March:- Most cardiac operations today are performed through a sternotomy, which involves splitting the entire breastbone. Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) encompasses a variety of operations which are performed through incisions that are substantially smaller and less traumatic than the standard sternotomy.

Announcing this new technique during a press conference at a hotel here today , Dr Virendar Sarwal, Sr. Director & Head of Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery  at Max Hospital, Mohali  and world renowned heart surgeon Dr Lucia Torracca, chief of cardiac surgery department, Ospedali Riuniti,  Ancona Italy said that conventional coronary artery bypass surgery or open heart surgery as it is commonly called is performed by splitting or cutting through the breastbone (sternum). MICS for coronary bypass surgery is a safe procedure that has revolutionized the way coronary surgery is performed.

Dr Virendar Sarwal said that in this technique the heart is approached through the side of the right or left chest via a small 3-4 inches incision. This cut is placed just under the nipple and the chest is entered between the ribs without cutting any bones and by splitting the muscle.

Meanwhile Dr Virender Sarwal along with Dr Lucia demonstrated live surgeries of this new technique at Max Hospital, Mohali operation theatre this morning .

Elaborating the technique further, Dr Virender Sarwal said that the operation is performed using all arteries or a combination of arteries and veins removed from the leg. The vessel from the leg in these operations is also removed endoscopically without cutting the skin over the leg. Highly advanced instrumentation and advanced techniques allow for the operation to be performed very safely.

Dr Lucia said that MICS confers many advantages over standard approaches, reduced trauma to the chest wall tissues being the most important. This latest technique of open heart surgeries comes with huge benefits to the patient such as early discharge in 2-3 days from hospital and back to work early in 10 days as compared to 6-8 weeks in the conventional technique. Other benefit includes smaller incisions, smaller scars, reduced infection risk, shorter hospital stay and recovery time and most importantly less blood loss.  

While giving differences between MICS vs traditional technique, Dr Lucia said that no bones are cut. This has several advantages in reducing pain, retaining function and having a positive effect on breathing. Unlike traditional heart surgery return to normal life including driving or other activities is not disrupted and can be started almost immediately. Blood loss is almost negligible eliminating blood transfusion in most and eliminating blood borne infection. She said that reduced infections whether it be wound infections or post surgical lung infection. This makes the procedure ideal in diabetics and older patients who have poor resistance to infection. The incision is so cosmetic and measures just 3-4 inches that it's practically impossible to tell that a heart operation has been done, so it is a preferred procedure especially for women. The procedure Hospital stay is only 4 days unlike the conventional heart surgery that takes 9 days.