Scar - Right Anterior MiniThoracotomy for AVR!!

[jpattillo]

Here is the scar about 10 days post op.

 

[jpattillo]

Here is it is about 14 days post op. No sternotomy = no broken bones. Smaller incision = less blood loss, less chance of infection and better cosmetic result.

 

[Boston Tiger]

Wow, that's really different from my mini-stern scars. It's amazing what they can do now.

 

[Luana]

Yep, that's about what mine looked like then. What I really appreciated with this approach was no difficulty getting in and out of bed when first home after surgery. I know a lot of people complain about that and I still think it's less painful, though I don't have a sternotomy to compare it to, my pain after surgery was very minimal.

 

[jpattillo]

My pain was pretty minimal too. The worst pain was in my back from one of the drain tubes. That lasted about three days. The incision site was mostly just numb. Once the numbness wore off the musculo-skeletal pain wasn't that bad.

 

[Duffey]

You've sold me; I'm impressed!

 

[Roberta]

Wow....great incision and what a bonus not having to have your sternum cut! Sounds like you have started on the right track in your recovery.

 

[TheGymGuy]

This looks pretty good. Where are your tube holes, the little on underneath your pec or somewhere else?

This procedure, by the way, is totally awesome. Only issue is that it will not apply to those that need ascending aorta work, and a bunch of BAV patients would need some of, or even possibly reinforcements, to avoid future surgeries.

 

[jpattillo]

That is correct. It is only for isolate valve (aortic or mitral) replacements.