Surgery types

[Laurensophie]

Hi I am just wondering if anyone has had or has any information on a Right Thoracotomy ?

I am now due to have my aortic valve replaced and this procedure has been offered to me. There’s not a lot of information on this so hoping someone can help.

Thanks

[Paperlover]

I’m not certain but I think it is the same thing as minimally invasive surgery, so you might want to look into that. If it is, I had that for my mitral valve repair. I had one incision by my right breast and 5 holes or ports for the camera etc. I was only in hospital for 3 days and my main incision and four of the ports healed very quickly with very little scarring. Unfortunately I had an infection in the camera port because I had an adverse reaction to the dissolvable stitches and that delayed my recovery, but otherwise everything was fine and I would have been back to normal within 6 weeks. It is less risky than open heart surgery and there is generally less pain and a speedier recovery. Most surgeons will reserve the right to do full open surgery if they experience complications during the surgery.

[Laurensophie in reply to Paperlover]

Hi Paper lover, this is the same operation but mine is for the Aorta valve. I believe for the mitral valve this is a common procedure but unfortunately for me there’s not much information on the Aorta valve done in this way.

Thank you so much for replying 😊

[DinoCat]

You might be interested in a question I asked c2yrs ago & the thread responses about 'minimally invasive' heart surgery: healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

I did subsequently have my AVR by such a procedure - I believe that there are a few surgical variations, but that my operation was broadly described as a right thoracotomy. The big advantage, of course, is avoiding the longer recovery time & risks associated with conventional OHS (where the sternum is completely cut/rewired). At the time, not all specialist heart centres or individual surgeons offered such minimally invasive surgery, so the wait was potentially slightly longer. Scans have to take place to check that there is sufficient anatomical clearance. As Paperlover suggests, if problems are encountered surgeons generally have to reserve the right to revert OHS.

My procedure went very smoothly & I had a quick recovery from the less radical surgery. I would definitely repeat a minimally invasive approach if I need a further valve replacement, or similar major heart surgery