Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery

New techniques in heart surgery mean that common open-heart operations can be performed through smaller, less traumatic incisions. Harrison Medical Center surgeons use Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS) for aortic and mitral valve cardiac surgery—when it offers a good option with optimum results and easier recovery for the patient.

Our surgeons use MICS when it is the right time, the right patient, the right treatment

We perform aortic valve and mitral valve cardiac surgery with MICS. On the surface, it may seem “better” to have MICS for these surgeries because of the smaller scar. But many factors determine which type of surgery—traditional or minimally invasive—will produce the best outcome for you.

For example, MICS may be a better option for some patients who are too ill to tolerate a traditional large incision of the sternum, or for those who have had prior operations. Your team will help you understand your total health picture so you can decide—together—which surgical approach to take for the safest, most long-term result.

Life after surgery

Our surgeons advise that the smaller-than-normal incision can look better and create less physiological stress to the body. Because of better cosmetic appearance, people may feel better about themselves and their overall condition more quickly.

However, the same post-operative recovery times apply. Harrison Medical Center patients who undergo MICS require a hospital stay, usually with a few days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and up to a week in the hospital.

As with other cardiac surgery, getting back to an office job can take up to six weeks, while those with more physically demanding jobs may need a longer healing period before they begin heavy physical labor involving the upper body.