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The Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery Program at Yale-New Haven Hospital offers patients the latest advances in cardiac surgery techniques. The mission of the program is to surgically treat cardiac disease through smaller incisions, resulting in:
Arnar Geirsson, MD leads the program. Minimally invasive procedures include:
Since September 2006, an advanced surgical robot, the da Vinci Surgical System, has been part of the cardiac surgery team at YNHH. The $1.6 million-dollar device, four-armed robot, allows surgeons to perform certain minimally invasive surgeries with unparalleled precision. Patients benefit from the small incisions — called ports — which allow the robot’s small camera, that films in three-dimensions, and other surgical instruments to navigate inside the patient’s body. Patients enjoy faster healing, less infection, reduced need for pain management and shorter hospital stays when they have daVinci-assisted surgery.
About minimally invasive surgery
Traditionally, open heart surgeons have reached the heart through a sternotomy, a full incision of the breastbone that averages 9-10 inches in length. While this approach offers complete access to the heart, it extends the post-operative recovery period since the patient’s breastbone must heal. In minimally invasive surgery, surgeons reach the heart through smaller incisions that provide access to only the section of the heart being operated upon. The goal of all minimally invasive procedures is to lessen postoperative pain, minimize scarring, and reduce recovery times versus traditional open procedures.
A variety of surgical approaches are available within minimally invasive surgery Hemisternotomy approaches only requires splitting of the upper or lower part of the breast bone through a 3-4 inch incision. A minithoracotomy is an approximately 2-inch incision made between the ribs, eliminating the need for bones to heal postoperatively. Robotic cardiac surgery is another specific type of minimal access surgery. Surgeons make four very small (1/2 inch) incisions, placing flexible surgical instruments through three incisions, and a camera through the fourth. The surgeon then controls the instruments at a separate console.
Download the Services and Outcomes Guide (PDF).