Find a Doctor Medical Traveler Guide Make an Appointment Talk to Doctor

Health Articles

Experience Faster Recovery and Less Pain with Minimally Invasive Heart Valve Repair Surgery

For patients with heart valve stenosis or regurgitation, traditional open-heart surgery, with large incisions and lengthy recovery, is no longer the only option. Today, Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) offers a less invasive alternative that minimizes pain and significantly shortens recovery periods.

Dr. Chawakorn Leampriboon, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Vejthani Hospital, highlights that heart valve disease is a major health concern, especially among the elderly. This condition commonly arises from age-related degeneration of the heart valves but can also be caused by factors such as rheumatic heart disease, valve infections, or congenital abnormalities. Heart valve disease is generally classified into two primary types:

Valve stenosis occurs when the heart valve thickens or stiffens, restricting its ability to open fully and making it more difficult for blood to flow through.
Valve regurgitation happens when the heart valve fails to close tightly, allowing blood to flow backward into the heart chamber that it just pumped out of.

Heart valve repair surgery plays a crucial role in treating patients with malfunctioning heart valves, a condition that, if left untreated, can progress to heart failure. Traditionally, heart valve repair has been performed using open-heart surgery, a gold standard treatment. However, this procedure involves making a long incision in the center of the chest and separating the sternum (breastbone), leading to a more extended recovery period and considerable postoperative discomfort for patients.

The second approach, which has become increasingly popular for minimizing these challenges, is Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS). The surgeon utilizes specially designed long instruments to operate through small incisions between the ribs on the right side of the chest. A tiny video camera is inserted through one of the openings, providing magnified, detailed 3D imaging for precise guidance. A heart-lung bypass machine is connected through the blood vessels in the groin to support the function of the heart and lungs, allowing the surgeon to temporarily stop the heart and safely repair or replace the affected heart valve.

Minimally invasive heart surgery with endoscopic techniques offers the same level of safety as traditional open-heart surgery while providing numerous advantages. This advanced approach minimizes physical trauma, promotes faster recovery, and allows patients to return to their daily lives and work faster. Additionally, it reduces the length of stay in intensive care units, shortens overall hospital stays, and significantly enhances surgical outcomes, particularly for elderly patients with multiple health conditions and high surgical risks.

“We can significantly shorten the recovery period to just a few weeks, minimize the risk of infections, and reduce blood loss—offering invaluable benefits to patients, especially in today’s fast-paced world where a quick recovery is crucial,” said Dr. Chawakorn.

However, heart surgery is often seen as a high-risk procedure, causing many to feel anxious and reluctant to seek treatment. Yet, with advancements in technology and the expertise of surgeons, heart surgery is no longer something to fear. Most importantly, the sooner the surgery is performed, the less complex the treatment becomes.