The buzzword for cardiac surgery now, is ‘minimally invasive’. Already established in abdominal and orthopaedic surgical procedures, minimally invasive surgery is now making inroads into cardiac procedures.
At a live workshop for minimally invasive valve surgeries held at MIOT International hospital on Friday, V.V. Bashi, chairman, centre for cardiothoracic and cardiovascular care, said that while minimally invasive procedures required a lot of investment in equipment and technology, they had manifold benefits for patients.
MIOT has performed 51 such surgeries so far, and was showcasing them for over 100 participants from across the country.
Prof. Nicolas Doll, director, cardiac surgery, SANA Heart Centre, Stuttgart, Germany, said that at first, it took time and trouble for new techniques such as these to catch on, but over time, they became established.
Vijit K. Cherian, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at the hospital, explained that though minimally invasive surgery cost around Rs. 75,000 more than the conventional open surgery, it involved a shorter hospital stay, thereby cutting down on costs.
Since this form of surgery is video-assisted, the next step would be to have 3-D cameras, said Prof. Doll. Already being used for abdominal surgeries, 3-D high resolution cameras assist surgeons as they show exactly to what depth an incision is made, making it easier for doctors to work.
P.V.A. Mohandas, managing director, MIOT, delivering the inaugural address, stressed the need for innovation in order to make progress. “Once patients see the results of minimally invasive surgery, they take to it and it becomes popular. And so, we have to constantly innovate in order to achieve growth,” he said. The workshop will conclude on Saturday.
