Minimally invasive coronary artery surgery is also called limited access coronary artery surgery. It's being evaluated in several medical centers as an alternative to the standard methods for coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Like CABG, the surgery is done to reroute, or "bypass," blood around coronary arteries that are clogged by fatty buildups of plaque to improve the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart.

1. Minimally invasive heart surgery—full
information.
What is minimally invasive heart surgery?
Minimally invasive coronary artery surgery is also called limited
access coronary artery surgery. It's being evaluated in several
medical centers as an alternative to the standard methods for
coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Like CABG, the
surgery is done to reroute, or "bypass," blood around coronary
arteries that are clogged by fatty buildups of plaque to improve the
supply of blood and oxygen to the heart.
Two approaches are commonly used:
• Port-access coronary artery bypass (also referred to as PACAB
or Port CAB)
• Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass (also called
MIDCAB)
What makes a surgery "minimally invasive"?
Cardiac surgery would be considered minimally invasive by two
means. The first of these would be the incision being limited in its
extent. The second major category would be without the use of
cardiopulmonary bypass.
Why the Procedure is performed
Coronary arteries are the small blood vessels that supply your heart
with oxygen and nutrients that are carried in your blood.
When one or more of the coronary arteries becomes partly or totally
blocked, your heart does not get enough blood. This is called
ischemic heart disease or coronary artery disease. It can cause chest
pain (angina).

2. Coronary artery bypass surgery can be used to treat coronary artery
disease. Your doctor may have tried to treat you with medicines only.
You may have also tried cardiac rehabilitation.
Coronary artery disease varies a lot from person to person, so the
way it is diagnosed and treated will also vary. Heart bypass surgery is
just one treatment. It will be right for some people, but others may
have other kinds of treatment.
Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass may be used when
only 1 or 2 coronary arteries need a bypass and they are located
around the front of the heart.
What are the advantages of minimally invasive
surgery? Is it less stressful on the body? Is there
less recovery time?
Preliminary studies show that minimally invasive surgery is
associated with a shorter hospital stay and possibly a quicker return
to normal function. There appears to be no difference in other factors
such as associated complications and mortality.
What are the disadvantages of minimally invasive
surgery?
Being a new technology, there may be an associated learning curve
with the physician performing the case. This has only been in use for
several years, in contrast to traditional cardiopulmonary bypass which
has been done for several decades.
Who is an ideal candidate for bypass surgery?
Coronary artery disease is treated in three main ways: one is medical
therapy; second is percutaneous intervention for angioplasty; and the
third is coronary artery bypass graft. Bypass surgery is traditionally
recommended for patients with symptoms despite medical therapy
and/or with severe three vessel coronary disease (that is, involving all
major arteries supplying the heart). It also has improved survival for
patients with impaired ventricular function.

3. Before the Procedure
Always tell your doctor or nurse what drugs you are taking, even
drugs or herbs you bought without a prescription.
During the days before the surgery:
• For the 2-week period before surgery you may be asked to stop
taking drugs that make it harder for your blood to clot. These
might cause increased bleeding during the surgery. They
include aspirin, ibuprofen (such as Advil and Motrin), naproxen
(such as Aleve and Naprosyn), and other similar drugs. If you
are taking clopidogrel (Plavix), talk with your surgeon about
when to stop taking it.
• Ask your doctor who drugs you should still take on the day of
the surgery.
• If you smoke, try to stop. Ask your doctor for help.
• Always let your doctor know if you have a cold, flu, fever,
herpes breakout, or any other illness.
• Prepare your home for when you are discharged from the
hospital.
The day before your surgery:
• Shower and shampoo well.
• You may be asked to wash your whole body below your neck
with a special soap. Scrub your chest 2 or 3 times with this
soap.
• You also may be asked to take an antibiotic, to guard against
infection.
On the day of the surgery:
• You will usually be asked not to drink or eat anything after
midnight the night before your surgery. This includes chewing
gum and using breath mints. Rinse your mouth with water if it
feels dry, but be careful not to swallow.
• Take your drugs your doctor told you to take with a small sip of
water.
Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to arrive at the hospital.

4. After the Procedure
You may be able to leave the hospital 2 or 3 days after your surgery.
You may also be able to return to normal activities after 2 or 3 weeks.
Recovery from surgery takes time, and you may not see the full
benefits of your surgery for 3 to 6 months. In most people who have
heart bypass surgery, the grafts remain open and working well for
many years.
This surgery does NOT prevent the coronary artery blockage from
coming back. You can do many things to slow it down. Not smoking,
eating a heart-healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and treating high
blood pressure, high blood sugar (if you have diabetes), and high
cholesterol will all help.
You may be more likely to have problems with your blood vessels if
you have kidney disease or some other medical problems.
Is bypass surgery considered minimally invasive?
Only if it performed without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass or if it
is performed without a full sternotomy incision.
Potential risks with these procedures
A successful surgery will restore proper valve functions in the heart,
similar to traditional open-heart valve surgery. Signs such as heart
murmurs or enlarged heart chambers should be resolved. Any fatigue
or other symptoms should also be relieved over time.
Also, because cardiopulmonary bypass is used, patients are at the
same risk for complications related to bypass in minimally invasive
surgery as with traditional surgery. These side effects include a risk of
blood clots, stroke, memory loss, bleeding and post-pericardiotomy
syndrome. Patients are encouraged to discuss with their physician
any questions that they may have about the risks and benefits
associated with this surgery.
Is it safe to exercise after bypass surgery?

5. Yes. Exercise is an important component of recovery following
bypass surgery. Exercise performed is altered according to the
postoperative condition and is best done in a formal cardiac rehab
program.
Medical tourism
Medical tourism can be broadly defined as the provision of 'cost
effective' private medical care in collaboration with the tourism
industry for patients needing surgical and other forms of specialized
treatment. The process of healthcare tourism is jointly facilitated by
the corporate sector involved in medical and healthcare as well as the
tourism industry - both private and public.
Medical tourism has become a common form of vacationing, and
covers a broad spectrum of medical services. Medical tourism mixes
leisure, fun and relaxation together with wellness and healthcare.
A combination of many factors has lead to the recent increase in
popularity of medical tourism. Exorbitant cost of healthcare and
medical facilities in advanced countries, ease and affordability of
international travel, favorable currency exchange rates in the global
economy, rapidly improving technology and high standards of
medical care in the developing countries has all contributed their
share to this rapid development of medical tourism.
India has originated as one of the most important hubs for medical
tourisms. Many people from the developed countries come to India
for the rejuvenation promised by yoga and Ayurvedic massage
however, a nice blend of top-class medical expertise at attractive
prices is helping more and more Indian corporate hospitals to lure
foreign patients, including patients from developed nations such as
the UK and the US, for high end surgeries like Cardiac Bypass
Surgery or a Knee/Hip Replacement.
As more and more patients from Europe, the USA and other affluent
nations with high medical costs look for effective options, healthcare
tourism in India is definitely on the cards for most of them and the fast
growing Indian corporate health sector is fully geared to meet that
need.

6. Not just cost savings or the high standard of medical care facility, but
also the waiting time is much lower for any treatment in India than in
any other country. Medical help is often an emergency and situations
can turn worse if the treatment is delayed. While you might have to
wait for several months to get a surgical operation done in the US, in
India things can be arranged within a week. For further details on the
low cost minimally invasive coronary artery surgery visit us at
www.indiacardiacsurgerysite.com or mail your queries at
info@indiacardiacsurgerysite.com or talk to us international callers
at +91 9579119451.