Minimal Invasive Surgery for the Mitral Valve in Heart Successfully done at Wockhardt Hospital Mumbai Central

Minimal Invasive Surgery is rarely done in Mumbai, though it is widely known across the world. A team led by Dr. Mangesh Kohale, Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon at Wockhardt Hospital, SOBO, performed Minimally Invasive Surgery on two patients - a65yearold woman, and a 56yearold man. Minimal Invasive Surgery is a newer form of heart surgery in India. It is a relatively new and advanced technique of performing Coronary Bypass for the treatment of Coronary Heart Disease. In this technique, the heart is approached through the side, via a small 4-6 cm incision. This cut is placed just under the nipple. The chest is entered between the ribs without cutting any bones and by splitting the muscle.

The 65 year old woman complained of breathlessness. A 2D Echo was done, which revealed Mitral Valve Disease, hence advised replacement treatment. Dr. Mangesh Kohale and team performed Minimal Invasive Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery with a 6cm small incision below the right side of the chest. The56yearold man, on the other hand, had severe chest pain over a two month duration, and critical 90% blockage of the main artery.  Dr.Kohale performed Minimal Invasive Bypass Surgery from the left side of the chest, with a 6cm incision.

The number of elderly patients undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG) and Valve Replacement continues to increase. In both the above cited cases,Dr.Kohale performed Minimally Invasive Surgery which is new in Mumbai.

Minimal Invasive Surgery is not the ideal procedure for every patient. The doctor will make a call after studying each case, since Minimally Invasive procedures, as the name suggests, involve a very small area to work through.  As of now, 15-20% routine surgeries can be done with Minimally Invasive surgical techniques, and this number may increase.

Dr. Mangesh Kohale, Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon at Wockhardt Hospital Mumbai Central says, “Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery has several advantages over the traditional technique, such as the fact that no bones are cut. It involves less pain, and a patient can return to normal life, including driving and other activities, much quicker. Blood loss is negligible,avoidingthe need for blood transfusion in most cases, and reducing the risk of a blood-borne infection. This makes the procedure ideal in diabetics and older patients who have poor resistance to infection.”

“A Cardiac Surgery that was conventionally non-cosmetic, is getting cosmetic with the incision of just 5-6 cm. All these benefits put together make for very short hospitalisation and quick recovery. The best part is that all the blocks, irrespective of their location in the heart, can be bypassed in a safe and predictable manner.” added Dr. Mangesh.