Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgeries at Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican Hospitals
Minimally invasive cardiac surgery is an innovative heart surgery technique. It uses several small incisions in the side of the chest. It is an alternative to open heart surgery, which cuts through the breastbone to open the chest cavity and have full access to the heart.
Surgeons insert special instruments and an endoscope through the small incisions. An endoscope is a thin, lighted instrument with a small camera. The camera transmits pictures of the inside of your chest to a video screen. Your surgeon sees the inside of your chest on the screen as he or she performs the surgery. Doctors sometimes also use a surgical robot and special imaging technologies to assist in viewing and performing the surgery.
Call (702) 616-4900 or use our online tool to find a Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican hospitals surgeon who performs cardiac treatments, including minimally invasive heart surgery, in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV.
Conditions Treated with Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
In the past, doctors used minimally invasive surgery to treat just a few heart conditions. Today, there are a wide range of minimally invasive heart procedures, including:
- Coronary artery bypass
- Aortic valve replacement
- Atrial septal defect surgery
- Ventricular septal defect
- Maze procedure for atrial fibrillation
- Lead placement for cardiac resynchronization therapy or biventricular pacing
- Mitral valve surgery
- Tricuspid valve surgery
What to Expect During Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery
Cardiac surgeons perform minimally invasive cardiac surgery in a Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican hospital. This type of procedure is major surgery, so you will have general anesthesia. In most cases, doctors do not need to stop the heart or use a heart-lung machine. This means you can avoid potential complications from restarting the heart. Generally, minimally invasive surgeries take less time than traditional surgeries.
All cardiac surgeries involve some level of risk of complications, such as bleeding, infection, and stroke. If you are a good candidate for minimally invasive surgery, you are at low risk and complications are rare. Talk with your doctor about plans to minimize your risks.
Recovering After Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV
Minimally invasive cardiac surgery generally involves a faster recovery than open surgery. This is because it causes less trauma to tissues and organs in the chest cavity. Other benefits include:
- Less pain and blood loss
- Lower risk of infection, bleeding, and blood clots
- Shorter procedure times and hospital stays
- Quicker return to activities
- Smaller scars
Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican offers surgical procedures for heart problems, including minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery, in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV.