Keyhole heart surgery.

[Buddybeamer24]

Keyhole heart surgery. Has anyone experienced this surgery as I have found no proper information on the recovery process for this despite scouring for the information.

[Glemham]

You would be better looking for “minimally invasive surgery “. There are several posts about this on here. I had it for a mitral valve repair, which I have written about on here. It is still not offered widely, still not a walk in the park and not suitable for all patients but I am pleased I had my operation done this way.

[Buddybeamer24 in reply to Glemham]

how long ago did you have it?

I am.6 weeks post and had a few issues but no real support from anyone to be honest.

The odd text from surgeon but not great!

[Glemham in reply to Buddybeamer24]

November 20, so before lockdown. I didn’t get a post op appointment though until late February and no initial offer of rehab. When I did get that, lockdown started so didn’t happen. I think I was expecting to recover much more quickly but it took quite a long while both physically and mentally. After all, all the other procedures except cutting your sternum are the same. I had quite a lot of pain around where the incision was made for a while, which is also not surprisingly really, as I expect the muscles needed to heal. Almost 3 years down the line , I am now fit , healthy and happy so it worked!

[Cyprus12]

hi,

Have you enquired or discussed this with your cardiology consultant, or maybe contacted a specialist heart hospital (Papworth) for advice (that would be my first option. What they don'tknow about heart surgery probably isn'tworth knowing!). That would be my first steps. It sits behing the sternum, like a protection cage and they normally have to break that to get to it??

[Cat04]

Post your question on AFAssociation forum on HU, I think you'll find some people there have had it.

[DinoCat]

I posted a question on here a few weeks ago about "Minimally Invasive Cardiac (MIC) Surgery" & had a good response, with lots of helpful leads. Hope this link to the thread might work: healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

It depends what particular problem surgery is needed for (e.g., bypass, specific valve etc) & examinations/scans may be needed to see whether individual patients will be suitable for MICs. Also the term 'minimally invasive' covers a number of different possible procedures, from 'true keyhole' to a mini-sternotomy (where only part of the sternum is cut). Even TAVI is, of course, a form of 'minimally invasive' surgery, albeit normally used only where patients are not considered fit enough for more conventional surgery. MICs clearly offers a significantly reduced recovery period over alternatives where the sternum is cut. But it's a more skilled set of procedures with some extra risks.

Overall it seems like traditional open-heart surgery is still the 'NHS default', with minimally invasive more likely to be available in specialist centres or by particular (experienced) surgeons, and where patients especially request (which might increase the NHS waiting time). MICs would also be available privately, at cost!

MICs should become more common in the future, but unfortunately currently the UK NHS seems a little behind many comparable European countries.

Hope this helps, but there's not a single, simple answer!

[BlueBearBob in reply to DinoCat]

My cardiologist has referred me to St Barts for minimally invasive mitral valve repair. St Barts because it's one of the the few centres that do this type of surgery, but also because it's waiting list is a lot shorter (1 to 2 months) than Papworth (3 to 4 months).

Bob

[Buddybeamer24 in reply to BlueBearBob]

Thats interesting, I eas down for Barts but told they dont do Minimal Invasive so had to go down expensive self fundi g route privately🤨

[BlueBearBob in reply to Buddybeamer24]

That’s odd. I guess things have changed.

[sampaloc0624]

its called minimally invasive cabg. Had it for my 3x bypass last october 2021, faster recovery. Was out of hospital after 7 days. Started cardiac rehab on day 4. Day 10 i was on the bike and threadmill. 3 months after went back to work. Though there are still some glitches, but im coping up together with my medical team

[Davewm]

Hi. The only information I can offer is that my friend aged 83 had keyhole surgery to replace his Aortic Valve at St Bart’s and he was back home 3 days later and made a full recovery from the procedure.

Hope this helps a bit, all the best for you in the future with your health.

Kind regards

David

[Clairealou]

hi there Buddybeamer. I’ve had several open hearts and my latest surgery, minimally invasive to do a redo mitral valve replacement. MI goes through the side (around your right breast), your lungs are collapsed and they go across your chest cavity without having to break any ribs (which occasionally does still have to happen). Firstly, MI does still leave quite a scar but it’s less visible due to its location although makes wearing a bra difficult for several weeks. However, unlike OHS, I was driving much quicker and back at work after 2 months rather than 3. I think the pain was about the same but for both procedures, however, the pain is generally well managed and not as bad as you think it’s going to be for either procedure. I had my procedure at Kings College where 4 of my 5 surgeries have been and they are wonderful there. If you want t9 chat further, please just message.

[Buddybeamer24 in reply to Clairealou]

Hi Clairealou,

Thank you for responding.

Yes I would really like to chat more please.

I had my surgery a few weeks ago for a LAD bypass which was MI.

I was supposed to have at Barts but they cancelled and then I was told 2/3 years which wasnt acceptable so I had to self fund it.

I was released from hospital after 5 days but developed a wound infection and vecame quite poorly for a week or so. After two lots of strong antibiotics, I am now recovering and my scar looking less aggresive, but I thought I was doing well until I found and still do, that I get very breathless a lot of the time. Us this normal?

Plus back of my ribs hurt when yawning, coughing, sneezing etc.

I am also numb in my breast area.