Less invasive cardiac surgery

Abstract

To date, more and more cardiac surgeons are moving toward smaller incisions and the use of specialized less invasive surgical methodologies. The use of (and advances in) less invasive approaches or minimally invasive cardiac surgery can minimize or eliminate complications that may occur in conventional cardiac surgery. For example, for some surgeons, partial sternotomy and minithoracotomy have supplanted standard sternotomy as their preferred route for aortic valve and mitral surgeries.