The once “big” surgeries, aortic valve and aortic aneurysm replacements that everyone didn’t want to touch and were only performed in certain centers, can now be performed with very small incisions (3 cm). Especially in young patients, surgeries performed with small incisions (closed) lead to serious patient satisfaction and positive energy afterwards.

Minimally invasive cardiac surgery It is increasingly being applied in our country. While “simple” and ordinary surgeries in Cardiovascular Surgery were initially started with small incisions, Aortic Aneurysm surgeries, which we called “major” surgeries until 10 years ago, have now started to be “reduced”. In the incision in the picture, a skin incision of a young female patient whose Aortic Valve and Aortic Aneurysm (Ascending) have changed is seen.

Although scientific studies have shown that cardiac surgeries with small incisions have less bleeding, less infection, less pain, and quicker discharge (1), the real benefit to patients is acceptance of the surgery, entering the surgery with more positive energy, continuing this psychological state after the surgery, and a generally optimistic approach (2).

Heart diseases, which are detected without many symptoms and indicated for surgery in 60% of cases (3), are conditions that suddenly affect the lifestyle and psychology of patients. We often experience the thoughts of “I have no complaints”, “Why did I suddenly fall into this situation”, “I don’t think surgery is necessary”, “Am I that seriously ill”, psychological conditions that are not very good before major surgeries, and sometimes even lead to developments that disrupt the ideal timing. However, the best timing for heart surgeries is the situation before serious complaints begin. Most heart surgeries performed for “preventive” purposes before heart failure, when timed well, ensure that both the life expectancy and quality of life of patients are not impaired.

Small incision heart surgeries are also among the “protective” methods that ensure that patients who are considered for surgery at a young age, especially, accept the surgery before and after the surgery and that their psychological state is not damaged. For a female patient who has had surgery at the age of 30 (like the patient in the picture) and has to carry the scar on her chest for the rest of her life, it is easier to accept an incision that can be considered an “evil eye bead”.

resources

1) Uymaz B, Sezer G, Köksal Coşkun P, Tarcan O, Özleme S,  Aybek T.  Clinical outcome, pain perception and activities of daily life after minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting.  Anadolu Kardiyol Derg. 2014 Mar;14(2):172-7

2)  Aybek T.  Mitral valve surgery; from median sternotomy to closed chest procedures, from replacement to repair techniques/clinical outcomes of mitral valve repair in mitral regurgitation: a prospective analysis of 100 consecutive patients.  Anadolu Kardiyol Derg. 2011 Dec;11(8):745-6

3)  Aybek T , Dogan S, Risteski PS, Zierer A, Wittlinger T, Wimmer-Greinecker G, Moritz A.  Two hundred forty minimally invasive mitral operations through right minithoracotomy.  Ann Thorac Surg. 2006 May;81(5):1618-24.