What’s the real difference between minimally invasive and traditional heart surgery?

Minimally invasive approaches use small 2-4 inch incisions through the ribs or a partial sternotomy.

Advantages:

• Shorter hospital stays (3–4 days vs 5–7)
• Faster recovery (3–4 weeks vs 8–12)
• Less pain and blood loss
• Lower infection risk

Limitations:

• Only 30–40% of patients are candidates based on anatomy and disease complexity
• Multi-valve surgery, extensive coronary bypasses, and reoperations often require sternotomy
• Surgeons need high case volumes to maintain safety and quality

In expert hands, minimally invasive approaches provide outcomes equal to sternotomy for selected patients.