Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center is one of the first hospitals in Palm Beach County offering minimally invasive heart surgery as a treatment option for patients suffering from heart valve disease. Unlike traditional open heart surgery where the breast
bone needs to be surgically separated, minimally invasive valve surgery is performed through a small incision between the ribs, which may offer less pain and scarring, and a faster return to work and activities than the traditional method.
Several types of heart procedures can be performed minimally invasively, including:
Mitral Valve Repair and Replacement Mitral valve disease treatment depends on condition severity, if you’re experiencing symptoms, and if your condition is getting worse. Patients who may benefit include those suffering from
mitral regurgitation, mitral valve prolapse or mitral valve stenosis.
Tricuspid Repair and Replacement For patients suffering from Tricuspid Valve Disease, such as tricuspid stenosis or tricuspid regurgitation, these treatments either repair the valve with annuloplasty or replaces the valve entirely.
Aortic Valve Replacement Patients with aortic stenosis, a condition in which the aortic valve doesn’t open fully and results in reduced forward blood flow from the heart, or aortic regurgitation, a condition where the aortic valve does
not close all of the way, resulting in blood leaking back into the heart, may need aortic valve surgery to replace their aortic valve with either a mechanical or a biological heart valve.
Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation Maze – For patients who have AFib with or without valve disease. Incisions are made in a specific pattern, with a scalpel,
a cryoablation device that destroys tissue by freezing it, or radiofrequency that destroys tissue using energy. This directs the heart’s electrical impulses to the heart’s lower chambers. The scar tissue that develops helps block the electrical signals that trigger atrial fibrillation.
Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) Repair An Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), is a hole in the heart’s septum. The septum is a membranous wall that runs between the right and left sides of the heart. This defect is hereditary and if left
untreated, a substantial mixing of oxygenated and non-oxygenated blood may occur. Symptoms include shortness of breath, fainting, irregular heart rhythms or fatigue after mild activity or exercise. In some instances, a stroke may be the first
warning sign of the defect. In some cases, ASD may be closed through a closure device.
Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) Repair A Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) is a small opening between the upper chambers of the heart. A PFO may potentially allow hazardous clots to enter from the right side of the heart to the left and travel
to the brain, ultimately causing a stroke. In some cases, PFO may be closed through a closure device.
Potential Benefits Compared to Traditional Open Heart Surgery:
Smaller incision
Smaller scar
Less pain
Shorter hospital stay
Faster return to work and activities
Talk to your physician to determine if you are a candidate for minimally invasive heart surgery.
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