Why it's done

Many types of heart procedures may be performed with minimally invasive heart surgery, including:

• Aortic valve replacement
• Atrial septal defect and patent foramen ovale closure
• Atrioventricular septal defect surgery
• Coronary artery bypass surgery
• Maze procedure for atrial fibrillation
• Mitral valve repair or replacement
• Saphenous vein harvest for coronary artery bypass surgery
• Tricuspid valve repair or replacement

The potential benefits of minimally invasive heart surgery when compared with open-heart surgery can include:

• Less blood loss
• Lower risk of infection
• Reduced trauma and pain
• Shorter time in the hospital, faster recovery and quicker return to normal activities
• Smaller, less noticeable scars

Minimally invasive heart surgery isn't right for everyone. Your doctor and treatment team will work with you to determine whether it's an option to treat your condition.

To determine whether minimally invasive heart surgery is the best option, your doctor will likely review your medical history and order tests to get more information about your heart health.

Minimally invasive heart surgery is a complex surgical procedure that requires training and experience. You might be referred to a medical center with surgeons and a surgical team who have the needed expertise in performing minimally invasive procedures.