[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/03\/heart-surgery-best\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/03\/heart-surgery-best\/","headline":"Which Heart Surgery Is Best?","name":"Which Heart Surgery Is Best?","description":"What's the difference between open heart and minimally invasive heart surgery? Discover the pros and cons for each of these types of heart procedures.","datePublished":"2016-03-07","dateModified":"2024-01-11","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","name":"Heart and Vascular Institute","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/heart-and-vascular-institute\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/heart-surgery-best.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/heart-surgery-best.jpg","height":527,"width":791},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/03\/heart-surgery-best\/","about":["Heart and Vascular Health"],"wordCount":463,"keywords":["cardiac","heart surgery","minimally invasive heart surgery","open heart surgery"],"articleBody":"If you’ve been told you or a loved one needs heart surgery, you might be wondering exactly what that means. For most of us, our first thoughts are of open heart surgery \u2014 and a long recovery time. But for many people, minimally invasive heart surgery presents a welcome alternative.Before you and your doctor choose the best course of action for you, learn about your options.What Is Open Heart Surgery?Technically, “open heart surgery” refers to any cardiac procedure in which the chest is opened surgically. The heart itself may or may not be “opened” during this form of surgery.This approach may be used to correct problems in the:Arteries.Heart muscle.Valves.Other related structures.In traditional open heart surgery, the heart actually is stopped and the patient is connected to a heart-lung bypass machine. The machine does the work of the heart and lungs while the surgeon performs the procedure.This type of operation requires a 6- to 8-inch incision in the chest and may involve temporary placement of a pacemaker to help regulate your heartbeat. You’ll likely remain in the hospital for four to eight days after the operation. It may take at least five to eight weeks for you to recover.Although every case is different, this type of surgery is best for people who:Have a complex aortic issue requiring a complicated cardiac operation.Have had heart surgery in the past.Need multiple coronary artery bypass procedures.What Is Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery?In minimally invasive (robotic-assisted) heart surgery, your surgeon will make one or more small incisions between your ribs. Then, surgical instruments \u2014 along with a tiny camera \u2014 are inserted through the incision(s).The surgical tools are connected to robotic arms that the surgeon controls with a computerized device. This device enables the surgeon to manipulate the instruments and perform the procedure more precisely.This minimally invasive procedure can be used for several different cardiac procedures, including:Aneurysm repairCoronary bypassValve surgeryBecause it involves a smaller incision, it can have a number of benefits for patients. These include:Less pain.Less scarring.Lower risk of infection and bleeding.Shorter hospital stays after surgery.Shorter recovery time.People who undergo minimally invasive heart surgery usually return home two to five days after the procedure. In general, it takes between one and four weeks to recover from this form of surgery.Your surgeon will factor in your age, medical history, general health, and specific heart concerns to decide which type of surgery is best for you.To learn more about open heart and minimally invasive heart surgery treatment options, visit the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute website.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on March 7, 2016, and was last reviewed on July 26, 2022."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2016","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"03","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/\/03\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Which Heart Surgery Is Best?","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/03\/heart-surgery-best\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]