Cardiac surgery is traditionally performed through a sternotomy where the patient’s sternum or breastbone is divided in order to provide exposure to the heart. While this approach remains the gold standard for most patients, an increasing number of cases at the NBHC are being performed using smaller, less invasive incisions. This is referred to as minimally invasive cardiac surgery.
In addition to allowing for a smaller incision and an improved cosmetic result, minimally invasive cardiac surgery is associated with less post-operative bleeding, less post-operative pain, less surgical wound complications including infection and poor healing, shorter recovery time and a quicker return to work and activities of daily living.
The minimally invasive cardiac surgery program at the NBHC was founded nearly a decade ago with the first minimally invasive mitral valve replacement having been performed in December 2010. This program was the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada, and since its inception, has seen over 150 minimally invasive procedures performed, ranging from minimally invasive valve replacement and repair to minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting, minimally invasive cardiac tumor resections and even minimally invasive congenital heart defect repairs.
The NBHC remains a leader in minimally invasive cardiac surgery and continues to explore innovative and cutting-edge techniques so that it may offer this approach to a greater number of its patients. For more information regarding this program, including what procedures are performed minimally invasively and whether or not you or your patient is a candidate, please do not hesitate to contact us by phone at 506-648-6102, by fax 506-648-6110 or by email at hc.nb@HorizonNB.ca.
