Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery

Rather than a sternotomy -- a standard approach for open-heart surgery that requires a large chest incision, dividing the breastbone, and spreading the ribs -- minimally invasive heart surgeries use an approach called mini thoracotomy. It requires one small incision between two ribs. Long, thin tools are inserted through the incision to fix the heart.

Robotic-Assisted Heart Surgery

In robot-assisted minimally invasive heart surgery, your surgeon performs the procedure by controlling robotic arms, which can further reduce incision size. In addition to the mini thoracotomy incision, several small incisions (less than about half an inch long) are placed for the robot arms. A high-powered camera magnifies your surgeon’s view of the heart to improve precision. The ribs are not spread, which reduces pain after surgery.

After minimally invasive heart surgery, most people are in the hospital for four to six days. You will spend the first day in an intensive care unit (ICU) before moving to a step-down unit. After hospital discharge, you can resume your normal activities as soon as you’re feeling up to it. There are no lifting restrictions or sternal precautions (limiting movement to protect the breastbone), unlike after traditional sternotomy surgery.

Highly Experienced Surgeons

Minimally invasive heart surgery requires advanced training and experience -- our heart surgeons have both. We routinely perform these complex operations with positive outcomes. For example, Duke Health is one of less than 25 Mitral Valve Repair Reference Centers in the U.S., a distinction reserved for hospitals that routinely achieve excellent outcomes in mitral valve repair. In fact, more than 95% of our mitral valve repairs are performed minimally invasively, according to the Society for Thoracic Surgeons. We also continually improve our skills by attending educational meetings and training events.

Team Approach to Care

At Duke, you are cared for by a team of specialists. In addition to your heart surgeons, your care team includes cardiologists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, cardiac anesthesiologists, nurses, and others who specialize in heart care and/or heart surgery.

We Offer All the Options

Whatever you’re facing, Duke Health offers more options for your heart care. That ranges from life-saving cardiopulmonary support to advanced equipment, technical skills, and surgical techniques.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Duke’s cardiac rehabilitation program helps you make lasting, heart-healthy lifestyle changes after undergoing heart surgery. Through exercise, education, and counseling, our cardiac rehab experts collaborate to improve your heart health, aerobic endurance, and general well-being.