Op. Dr. Devrim Eroğlu, an experienced Cardiovascular Surgery Specialist at İrmet Hospital, provided important information about Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery, which is performed through a small incision. This method, which offers less pain, a shorter recovery period, and aesthetic advantages, improves patients’ quality of life in heart surgeries.
What is minimally invasive heart surgery, which is especially preferred in conditions such as heart valve diseases, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and congenital heart anomalies? Here is information about this method, which is one of the best examples of modern medical technology…
What Is Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery?
Dr. Devrim Eroğlu, a Cardiovascular Surgery Specialist at Irmet Hospital, emphasized that the minimally invasive heart surgery technique is a revolutionary development in the treatment of heart diseases today.
Minimally invasive heart surgery is an advanced technique in which heart operations are performed through small incisions as an alternative to traditional open surgery.
In traditional open-heart surgeries, the breastbone must be cut completely, while in the minimally invasive method, the procedure is performed through small incisions of 4–6 centimeters. Thanks to this technique, patients experience less pain, and the recovery period is significantly shortened.
What Is the Purpose of Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery?
Op. Dr. Eroğlu stated that surgeries performed with small incisions not only offer an aesthetic advantage but also significantly reduce the risk of complications.
Minimally invasive heart surgery can be performed especially in the treatment of heart valve diseases, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), congenital heart diseases, and some tumors. One of the most important advantages of this method is that patients can return to their normal lives much sooner after the surgery. In addition, since the breastbone is not cut, the risk of infection is reduced to a minimum.
Op. Dr. Eroğlu emphasized that thanks to this method, especially elderly patients and those with chronic diseases undergo a safer surgical process. While minimally invasive methods are rapidly becoming widespread around the world, they are also successfully applied in many modern centers in Türkiye.
Dr. Eroğlu stated that as İrmet Hospital, they aim to provide the best service to patients by using the most up-to-date techniques in this field, and said, “Our goal is to make the treatment process of heart diseases more comfortable and safer for patients.”
Advantages of the Minimally Invasive Approach
Minimally invasive heart surgery offers a series of advantages that transform surgical experience for patients. Op. Dr. Devrim Eroğlu states that this method directly improves quality of life.
Thanks to small incisions, the level of pain is significantly lower compared to traditional surgery, patients get back on their feet in a shorter time, and their hospital stay is reduced. This technique, which also provides aesthetic advantages, is an ideal choice especially for young and active individuals.
Advantages of minimally invasive heart surgery:
- Less Pain and Fast Recovery: Small incisions minimize postoperative pain and reduce the healing process from weeks to days.
- Low Risk of Infection: Since the breastbone is not cut, the likelihood of infection decreases significantly.
- Aesthetic Advantages: No large scars form, which increases patients’ psychological comfort.
- Reduced Complications: Blood loss is lower, and overall complication rates decrease; it is especially suitable for patients with risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, or advanced age.
- Short Hospital Stay: Patients are discharged more quickly after surgery and return to daily activities.
Eroğlu stated that thanks to the small incision method, patients also experience a more comfortable psychological process, saying, “Not encountering a large surgical scar after the operation helps patients feel better.” He noted that with modern surgical techniques, this method increases both patient satisfaction and success in treatment.
In Which Conditions Is Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery Used?
Minimally invasive heart surgery is a preferred method in the effective treatment of various heart conditions. Op. Dr. Devrim Eroğlu states that this technique provides superior results in areas such as heart valve diseases, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), congenital heart anomalies, and heart tumors. This approach, which is a strong alternative to traditional open surgeries, accelerates the healing process and provides safe operation by preserving the breastbone. It is frequently used especially in mitral and aortic valve surgery.
- Heart Valve Diseases: Ideal for procedures such as mitral valve repair or replacement and aortic valve replacement; offers high success rates with small incisions.
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG): Used for bypassing narrowed vessels; less invasive compared to traditional methods.
- Congenital Heart Anomalies: Used in young patients for repairing septal defects or other congenital problems, reducing physical and psychological trauma.
- Heart Tumors: An effective option for removing certain benign or malignant tumors.
- Other Applications: This technique is also preferred for procedures such as atrial septal defect (ASD) closure or the treatment of certain arrhythmias.
Op. Dr. Eroğlu said, “When the right patient selection is made, the treatment success rates with this technique are quite high.” Minimally invasive methods are also a highly effective option for the removal of heart tumors. In addition, in individuals with congenital heart diseases at a young age, the small incision method minimizes both physical and psychological trauma.
Dr. Eroğlu stated that determining which patients are suitable for this method is decided through detailed examination and advanced tests, adding, “Every patient’s condition is different, and the treatment plan should be prepared individually.”
The Future of Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
Op. Dr. Devrim Eroğlu emphasized that with technological advancements in heart surgery, minimally invasive methods will become much more widespread in the future, and that they closely follow innovations in this field.
Globally, minimally invasive surgery has started to become the gold standard in heart operations. As this method becomes more common, patients’ fear of surgery decreases, and their confidence in treatment increases.
Dr. Eroğlu stated that as İrmet Hospital, they implement these techniques with the most up-to-date devices and methods, and said, “Our goal is to offer minimally invasive heart surgery at the highest level in our region and provide our patients with world-class service.”
Drawing attention to the importance of raising patient awareness about minimally invasive surgery, Dr. Eroğlu emphasized that heart health awareness needs to be increased in society.
He noted that regular check-ups ensure early detection of heart diseases, making surgeries performed with small incisions possible. He also said that this method is not only a surgical technique but also an approach that improves patients’ quality of life.
Dr. Eroğlu emphasized that patients’ active involvement in postoperative care is crucial for recovery and treatment success. Faster recovery with minimally invasive surgery and early return to social and work life are among the greatest advantages of this method.
