Centre for Minimal Access Cardiac surgery at London Bridge Hospital

When heart valves become diseased (stenosis) or coronary arteries become blocked (occluded), blood flow through the heart and around the body can be restricted to the point that patients require surgery. Instead of open heart surgery (sternotomy), less invasive – minimal access – surgical techniques can be performed on suitable patients. These newer techniques provide more options for patients and can help them achieve a better quality of life more quickly, along with less pain and scarring.


Procedures performed minimally invasively include: 

• Aortic, mitral and tricuspid valve repairs and replacements 
• Coronary artery bypass grafts in single vessel disease, on a beating heart
• Atrial septal defects or PFO closures (holes in the heart wall dividing the atria)
  
  
  

Compared to traditional open heart surgery, minimal access cardiac surgery is performed using smaller incisions. Such surgeries are carried out by a minority of surgeons, as very high skill levels are required. These surgeons are able to gain access to the heart in a number of ways: between the ribs, preventing the need for cutting the breastbone (full sternotomy); or with a much smaller incision in the sternum (mini sternotomy), or using a keyhole approach (in the case of a MIDCAB). Unlike traditional open heart surgery – with an approximate recovery time of four to six weeks, and 3 months to full fitness – such smaller incisions can achieve:

• Faster recovery times: a few weeks
• Less pain and trauma: reduced damage to ribs
• Improved cosmetics: smaller scars
• Less trauma in more vulnerable patients
• Lower infection rates