Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement Vs Full Open Heart Procedures?

[itsme2]

I have to have an aortic valve replacement.

I'm considering a MIAVR procedure instead of full open heart. Can anyone here who has had the MIAVR procedure comment on their experience good or bad? The idea of having my chest fully opened up horrifies me.

Am I in the correct forum with this post?

Thank you.

 

[Paleowoman]

Hi Itsme2 - minimally invasive aortic valve replacement is the one that's normally done these days if it is only your aortic valve that needs replacing. It's supposed to be les painful and with a quicker recovery. My surgeon was going to do minimally invasive technique - she didn't ask me, she just said she was going to do that - but in the operating theatre she couldn't access my aortic valve that way and went on to do standard procedure. Thing is with the idea of your chest being fully open you think of films like Alien or Event Horizon - I know I did - it's not really like that at all ! If you're up to it have a look at videos on Youtube of open heart surgery and you won't see a set of ribs sticking up in the air ! Even with standard sternotomy. However, as I said, in theory the minimal incision is supposed to be freer of post operative pain and quicker recovery. You will want the surgeon to get access to your aortic valve and that is the most important thing - ask the surgeon what he/she wants to do and go with that.

 

[cldlhd]

I can understand your feelings about having your chest opened up but obviously you'll be out when its done she'd be end result is what matters. I'm not saying mini avr will necessarily not turn out as well, what do I know, but there's something to be said for full access.

 

[almost_hectic]

My surgeon specializes in minimally invasive and even robotic procedures. I was initially scheduled for my AVR by Minitororacotomy (I think it's called) whereby the surgeon goes in through a small (2 inch maybe) incision between two ribs of the chest leaving the sternum and midline of the chest untouched. When it was found out before surgery that I also had an aortic anyeurism that plan changed to a different procedure still considered minimally invasive, it's called a Ministernotomy. This meant cutting through the sternum from the top down but it's only about a 3 and a half inch incision. That's opposed to the traditionally 10 or 12 inch long incision in traditional open heart surgery. So really what the surgeon needs access to will determine the procedure. One of the major benefits to the patient with minimally invasive procedures, besides what's already mentioned above, is you are likely in surgery for less time. The less time you are on the heart lung machine the less potential for adverse side effects. I won't go into those as they are a bit scary to think about. But then open heart surgery overall is a bit scary.