Minimally invasive heart surgery

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Heart, front view

Posterior heart arteries

Anterior heart arteries

Coronary artery stent

Heart bypass surgery - series

Overview

Recovery

Risks

Minimally invasive heart surgery

Alternative Names:

Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB); Off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB); Beating heart surgery; RACAB (robot assisted coronary artery bypass); Keyhole heart surgery
Convalescence:

text continues below

MIDCAB and OPCAB patients typically spend one day in the surgical intensive care unit and then move to a regular surgery unit, where they receive cardiac rehabilitation. The average hospital stay is 3 days for MIDCAB patients and 5-7 days for OPCAB patients. In contrast, a hospital stay of 6-10 days is typical for conventional CABG patients.

Patients who have had MIDCAB have lower chest wound infection rates than patients who have undergone CABG or OPCAB. A smaller incision means less exposure and handling of tissue, which reduces the chance of infection.

MIDCAB patients recover more quickly than those who undergo CABG or OPCAB. Within 2 weeks, most MIDCAB patients can return to their normal activity level, compared with 2-3 months for patients who have had conventional surgery.

OPCAB patients have a recovery that in most respects is similar to that for CABG patients. Most are able to return to full activity, including work, 2-3 months after operation.