Cardiothoracic surgery is performed on the heart, lungs or esophagus. It’s often used to treat conditions including coronary artery disease, mitral valve prolapse and lung cancer. What a patient can expect from cardiothoracic surgery varies depending on whether he or she is undergoing traditional open surgery or minimally invasive da Vinci® surgery. Here are some points to consider about these variations in surgery.
• In the case of traditional open cardiac surgery, a patient can expect the procedure to include a large incision, the cutting of the breastbone, a sizeable scar and a recovery period of approximately 8 to 12 weeks. In the case of da Vinci surgery, a patient can expect an effective yet far less invasive procedure.
• When performing da Vinci surgery, a surgeon makes very small incisions through which he or she inserts a tiny three-dimensional camera and miniature surgical tools. While at a computer console, the surgeon uses the detailed images provided by the camera to determine how to maneuver the robotic arm attached to the surgical tools. In the case of da Vinci coronary artery bypass surgery, small incisions are made between the ribs, and there is no need to cut the breastbone.
• Because the technology is so advanced, the surgeon has more precise control than he or she would with traditional open surgery. This translates into decreased risk and fewer side effects for the patient.
• Because the incisions are so much smaller, there is less bleeding, reduced need for a blood transfusion, less scarring, reduced risk of infection, and less pain than with traditional open surgery. And because the trauma experienced by the body is minimal, patients recover faster and are able to leave the hospital sooner.
• These benefits combine to create a better overall outcome than compared to traditional open surgery.
To learn more about da Vinci cardiothoracic surgery at Kendall Regional Medical Center, visit us online. For a physician referral, use our free Consult-A-Nurse® service. You can contact our nurses 24 hours a day by calling 1-888-256-7719.
Related Posts:
Meet the da Vinci
Overview of Valve Replacement Surgery
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