When it comes to heart surgery, there's no one-size-fits-all solution.
Depending on your specific condition, your surgeon may recommend catheter-based minimally invasive techniques or open-heart surgery.
“Understanding the differences between these approaches can empower you to have an informed conversation with your doctor about the best path forward,” said Mark Ricciardi, MD, an Endeavor Health interventional cardiologist, who is also the Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Walgreen, Jr. Chair of Cardiology.
Some cardiovascular conditions are too complex for catheter-based minimally invasive techniques and open-heart surgery is the best option.
Open-heart surgery usually involves one large incision down the middle of the chest or several smaller incisions and often uses a heart-lung bypass machine to keep blood circulation stable. This allows the surgeon to have a direct view of the heart and can permit a wide range of procedures, including coronary artery bypass grafting, valve repair or replacement repair.
One downside of open-heart surgery is the recovery time, which can take 6-12 weeks, and that patients may experience more pain and a longer hospital stay. The incision will also leave a scar.
Minimally invasive transcatheter heart surgery does not require an incision, just a small puncture in the skin to allow for catheter insertion. The surgeon then advances the heart repair or replacement device through the catheter into the heart using ultrasound and x-ray for visualization.
Minimally invasive transcatheter techniques are perfect for many procedures such as valve replacement or repair, stents and atrial fibrillation (AFib) ablation. The recovery time is shorter; patients experience little or no pain and usually go home quicker. There is no scar.
“Endeavor Health Cardiovascular Institute has been a pioneer in advanced, minimally invasive techniques like TAVR [transcatheter aortic valve replacement] and TEER [transcatheter edge-to-edge repair],” Dr. Ricciardi said.
To add to the list of many firsts at Endeavor Health, Dr. Ricciardi performed the first commercial TriClip implant in the Midwest in 2024, a minimally invasive TEER procedure for people with leaky tricuspid heart valves who are failing conventional therapy.
The best approach for a particular patient depends on several factors, including the specific heart condition, the patient's overall health, anatomic considerations and the expertise of the surgeon.
Every heart is unique, and so is every treatment plan. If you have concerns about your heart health or are considering heart surgery, talk to your doctor. They can help you understand your options and determine the best course of treatment for your individual needs.
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