Minimally invasive surgery

[Paleowoman]

I was a patient in a doctors' exam today, an exam for doctors who want to move up the career ladder to become specialists. I had so called 'minimally invasive' surgery to replace my bicuspid aortic valve last January. My incision scar is over 4 inches long which seemed to me longer than the 'normal' 'minimally invasive' incision which is usually about 2 inches long. Well every doctor (11 of them) said I had a 'median sternotomy' scar ! None of them said I had a 'minimally invasive' scar ! I do wonder why my incision was so long, I would obviously have to ask the surgeon why. I certainly don't mind the scar but am curious.

 

[Harley2000]

I had what my Dr. called minimally invasive surgery to replace my aortic valve and repair my mitral valve. I find that what he did was a right thoracotamy or Minimal Incision surgery for AVR and MVR. I had a 6 inch incision between the ribs. I figure the length is a bit long because of working on the two different valves. I believe that it was better than any form of sternotomy. Scar is barely visible.

 

[Paleowoman]

My incision is from near the top of my sternum running down about 4 1/2 inches.

 

[Paleowoman]

My incision is from near the top of my sternum running down about 4 1/2 inches to about 1 inch from the bottom of the sternum.

 

[Garserin]

As long as it's down the middle of the sternum it's a median sternotomy. Mine is a full 8.5" long, minimally ones are about half of that. At least that is my understanding.

 

[river-wear]

Yeah, 2" would seem awfully small, even for "minimal." Mine is 6" and I've wondered if that is considered "minimal" or not. It's certainly higher than the surgeon said it would be, but he needed more access to do a good job. The scar is a bit annoying still (because it's so red I keep it covered), but I don't think I'll care once it fades.

 

[Paleowoman]

I've never heard that Garsarin ! I was led to believe that minimally invasive was only about 2 inches long (when it's down the sternum that is), there are even pictures of it from several heart hospitals, and when I keyed in "median sternotomy" on search engines it always comes back as different from "iminimally invasive". I think I'll ask my cardiologist when I next see him. My sternum is just over 6 inches long from the very top 'wider' part to the softer bottom part as I'm a small female.

PS I got this from a surgeon whose hospital did a presentation about patient perception of minimally invasive surgery at the Society of Cardiathoracic Surgery: "The approach used in Middlesbrough results in a scar that is about 2 inches long.....For this reason the pre operation discussions in outpatient clinics should be clear about what the surgery involves." There was no discussion with me beforehand.

 

[Elgato]

I believe mine was considered a median sternotomy and is exactly 3.5" directly in the center.

 

[Paleowoman]

I believe mine was considered a median sternotomy and is exactly 3.5" directly in the center.

Did they also say your's was "minimally invasive" Elgato ?

 

[R1Phrankey]

I have had a minimal invasive surgery: 3 inches long.

 

[joanpieroni]

I think my AVR surgery is very minimal 2 &1/2 '' inch HORIZONTAL scar above my right breast. The Amazing surgeon went between 2 ribs and replaced my valve, 6 months ago ( I feel great!!!)

 

[river-wear]

I always thought "minimal" was 4" so I'm amazed your scars are shorter; 2" seems awfully small to try to pry a gap in the sternum. Mine is 6" and I've wondered if that is considered "minimal" or not. It's certainly positioned higher than the surgeon said it would be, but he needed more access to do a good job. The scar is a bit annoying still (because it's so red I keep it covered), but I don't think I'll care once it fades.

 

[Paleowoman]

Hi Michele,

Here on this website they have info about minimally invasive surgery with a photo of the sternal incision with a ruler beside it - 2 inches ! http://www.escardio.org/communities...ttockman-degrieck-casselman.aspx#.VD_5LlbzfLQ They describe how it's done. And this is what I got from a UK hospital who did a study on it:"The approach used in Middlesbrough results in a scar that is about 2 inches long"

My incision starts high up too near the top of my sternum...ah, here's a piccie of it I posted in the Tawdy Shirt section of the forum: http://www.valvereplacement.org/for...the-tawdry-shirt-toots/44053-my-incision-scar