Minimally Invasive Surgery

Heart Surgery

Dr. Rosenbloom (left) and Dr. Highbloom perform minimally invasive heart heart valve replacement surgery.

Minimally invasive heart surgery refers to cardiac surgery that is performed using much smaller incisions and specialized instruments for visualization. These procedures often require less surgical time, and have a shorter recovery period, offering a promising alternative to traditional open heart surgery. Cooper cardiac surgeons now perform various minimally-invasive surgical procedures with or without the heart-lung machine and may utilize robotic-assisted heart surgery using the daVinci® Surgical System.

To use the daVinci® Surgical System, the surgeon makes three small incisions in the patient's chest and inserts the instruments, which are attached to robotic arms, into these incisions;. Two arms hold surgical instruments and the third has a tiny video camera. The surgeon then sits at a computer console, where the camera transmits a 3-dimensional magnified image of inside the patient’s chest cavity. The surgeon places his fingers in holders that control the robotic arms and performs the procedure while seated a few feet away at the computer console. Heart procedures performed with the daVinci® Surgical System require general anesthesia and a hospital stay.

Minimally invasive heart surgery isn’t right for all patients. Before any surgery, the Cooper surgeon will discuss the procedure in detail with the patient, including whether to use a minimally invasive or traditional procedure.

Coronary Artery Surgery

Coronary Artery Surgery
The coronary arteries supply blood to the heart. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is caused by the build-up of fatty deposits (plaque) along the innermost layer of the coronary arteries. The fatty deposits may develop in childhood and continue to thicken and enlarge throughout the life span. This thickening, called atherosclerosis, narrows the arteries and can decrease or block the flow of blood to the heart. If left untreated, CHD can lead to a heart attack (myocardial infarction), chest pain (angina pectoris), or death.

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) is done to reroute or “bypass” the blocked arteries with healthy arteries or veins from other parts of the body, such as the leg. The new grafts allow blood to flow directly to the heart muscle by going around the blocked arteries. Cooper offers three types of minimally invasive coronary artery procedures: Port Access Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting, Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting, and Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Port Access Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
With port access coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), a heart-lung machine is used while the surgeon makes small incisions (cuts called ports) to connect new grafts around the blockages. The Cooper surgeon views the operation on a video monitor while he/she passes instruments through the ports to perform the bypasses. Port Access CABG is often done when three or more bypasses are necessary (for multi-vessel coronary disease).

Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass graft is performed while the heart is still beating, without using a heart-lung machine. This procedure is only used for patients with one or two blocked arteries. During the procedure, the Cooper surgeon makes a series of small incisions (cuts called ports) in the chest, including a cut directly above the coronary artery that will be bypassed. The doctor uses a healthy artery from elsewhere within the chest to bypass the blockage.

Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting is performed while the heart is still beating, without using a heart-lung machine. This procedure can be done on patients with multiple blocked arteries. Using new stabilizing devices, Cooper surgeons can access blockages that could not be reached previously without using a heart-lung machine.

Other Heart Surgery

Biventricular Pacing
Biventricular pacing is a promising new procedure for congestive heart disease. Biventricular pacing works like a pacemaker and improves the left ventricle's ability to fully pump blood from the heart. The procedure requires the placement of electronic leads into the coronary sinus, the right ventricle, and the right atrium. It receives most of the blood from the walls of the heart and empties into the right atrium. Cooper surgeons use the robotic daVinci® Surgical System to perform minimally invasive surgery to place the electronic leads.

Doctors Who Perform These Minimally Invasive Procedures

For more information or to schedule an appointment with a Cooper University Physician at an office near you, call 1-800-8-COOPER (800-826-6737).