Centre for Minimal Access Cardiac surgery at London Bridge Hospital
Minimal access alternatives to open heart surgery
Appointments & Enquiries
020 7089 2017
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street
London SE1 2PR
Less invasive surgical techniques to improve outcomes
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)
My overriding ambition is to maintain the quality achieved through open heart surgery, but do it with less trauma to the body. Minimal access surgery is the latest, increasingly preferred technique for achieving this in suitable patients
Mr Ranjit Deshpande, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon
About minimal access surgery
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
Less invasive approaches are increasingly popular across many surgical specialties. This is equally true for cardiac surgery, although the extensive training and experience required for endoscopic techniques means fewer surgeons are performing them in the UK. In the right patients, these procedures produce outstanding results for patients.
Mr Max Baghai, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon
The latest minimal access surgical techniques
Repair or replacement of valves, structural defects and single vessel coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) can be approached minimally invasively in patients’ whose anatomy, health and build make it safe to do so. The main procedures include:
Minimal access mitral or tricuspid valve surgery (mini-mitral/tricuspid)
Most often an incision of less than 8cm, between the ribs, on the right hand side of the chest. Endoscopes project images onto a large screen while surgeons use thoracoscopic instruments to repair or replace valves.
Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (mini AVR)
A smaller incision in the sternum providing sufficient access to the heart for the use of conventional instruments to replace the aortic valve. This ensures less scarring in the event of future surgeries.
Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB)
A small incision in the left side of the chest for bypass of coronary vessels, performed on a beating heart. This decreases the need for blood transfusion and shortens length of hospital stay.
Despite being more complex, a mini sternotomy for an aortic valve replacement is preferable to a full sternotomy because it gives me the satisfaction of seeing my patients get better quicker, not to mention improved cosmetic results.
Mr Chris Young, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon
London Bridge Hospital minimal access cardiac surgeons
Our consultant cardiothoracic surgeons perform the full range of open sternotomy procedures however they also subspecialise in the various minimal access techniques. So if you’d like a second opinion or if you want more information about minimal access cardiac surgery, consultant contact details can be found via their profiles (below).
Mr Ranjit Deshpande
Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, specialising in mini mitral and tricuspid valve repair, MIDCAB and atrial septal defect closure
Mr Max Baghai
Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, specialising in mini mitral and tricuspid valve repair, MIDCAB and atrial septal defect closure
Mr Gianluca Lucchese
Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, specialising in mini mitral and tricuspid valve repair
Mr Christopher Young
Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, specialising in partial sternotomy for mini aortic valve replacement
Prof Olaf Wendler
Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, specialising in partial sternotomy for mini aortic valve replacement
Mr Kulvinder Lall
Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, specialising in right anterior thoracotomy for aortic valve replacement
Mr Conal Austin
Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, specialising in atrial septal defect and PFO closure
Why London Bridge Hospital for minimal access cardiac surgery
- A handful of the most experienced minimal access cardiac surgeons in the country
- Surgeons experienced in performing high volumes of minimally invasive procedures
- For suitable patients, choice of open sternotomy or minimal access
- Level 3 intensive care facilities specialising in post-operative cardiac patients
- The teams, facilities and expertise to perform the latest procedures
- Cardiac rehabilitation led by experienced Clinical Nurse Specialist, Suzanne O’Connor
Our location
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street
London SE1 2PR
Referring patients
Contact us
For self-pay or insured patient appointments, or to make an enquiry call