For patients

Cardiac surgery without opening the chest: promise or reality?

Will the chest need to be opened? That's the first question almost every patient asks. The answer depends on your case — understand how this evaluation works.

Cardiac surgery has traditionally been associated with a specific image: the open chest, the sternum sawn in half. That image is frightening — and understandably so. But it doesn't represent all cardiac surgeries performed today.

What is sternotomy

Sternotomy is the opening of the central chest bone (sternum) to provide direct access to the heart. It is the most widely used and studied technique in cardiac surgery, with decades of consolidated results. After surgery, the sternum is reconstituted with steel wires and requires time — usually several weeks — to heal completely.

What is minimally invasive surgery

In minimally invasive cardiac surgery, access to the heart is made through small incisions between the ribs — without opening the sternum. The surgeon uses specialized instruments and enhanced visualization (high-resolution camera, in some cases aided by a robotic platform) to perform the procedure with the same precision.

Real benefits — and what that means in practice

  • Less post-operative pain — smaller incisions mean less tissue trauma.
  • Lower infection risk — reduced incision area.
  • Less bleeding during the procedure.
  • Faster recovery — without the movement restriction period associated with sternal healing.
  • Shorter hospital stay in many cases.

Who can undergo the surgery?

Here is the most important point: not every patient is a candidate for minimally invasive surgery — and that is simply clinical reality. The indication depends on: individual anatomy, the type of procedure required, and associated clinical conditions. Age alone is not necessarily a determining factor — procedures have been successfully performed in patients aged 60, 65, and even 72.

"The access route should not be viewed as a marketing promise. It is one tool among many — and the correct choice is always the one that best serves the specific patient, not the most modern by default."

Find out if you're a candidate for minimally invasive surgery

Schedule a complete evaluation with Dr. Robinson Poffo.

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