Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS)
What is minimally invasive cardiac surgery?
Traditional heart surgery is performed by opening the sternum to access the mediastinum. Minimally invasive cardiac surgery uses sternal-sparing incision to perform heart surgery by making small incisions – most often on the right side of the chest – and using specialized instruments and techniques.
Why would you do this versus traditional approaches?
MICS offers patients several advantages including:
- Less pain (narcotic requirements are less than those with sternotomy)
- Shorter hospital stays
- Less infections, bleeding,
- Faster recovery – both with physical activity and return to work
- Small scar – cosmetic benefits
