One of the specialized "Small Incision Heart Surgery" centers, which has entered the world medical literature with the name "Keyhole Heart Surgery" and opened in a few health institutions in Turkey and the world, has taken its place in hospitals within Bezmiâlem Vakıf University. Head of the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Prof. Dr. At the center, which serves under the leadership of Cengiz Köksal, all types of heart surgery will be performed on suitable patients with small incisions and, if possible, without stopping the heart.
“Patients are afraid of open surgery”
Making a statement on the subject, Bezmiâlem Vakıf University Faculty of Medicine, Head of the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Prof. Dr. Cengiz Köksal; “Most heart surgeries are performed by cutting the area we call 'sternum' in the literature and popularly known as the 'board of faith'. In other words, we open the patient's chest from end to end and carry out the operation that way. But the location and size of the incision understandably causes fear and anxiety in heart patients. "For this reason, patients avoid surgery," he said.
Prof. Dr. Köksal said, “Among heart surgeries performed with small incisions; "In suitable patients, coronary bypass surgery under the left breast with a small incision in the working heart, mitral valve repair and valve replacement surgeries with a small incision in the working heart, tricuspid valve repair surgery in the working heart, and aortic valve surgeries with a small incision can be listed," he said.
“It has many advantages”
"Heart surgery without stopping the heart through a small incision has many advantages for patients," said Prof. Dr. Köksal continued as follows: “In surgeries performed with small incisions, the frontal bone of the chest, that is, the “board of faith”, is not cut. In patients whose frontal sternum has been amputated, patients are restricted from turning left and right after surgery, and patients return to their daily activities later. Additionally, these patients have a higher risk of infection after heart surgery. In heart surgeries performed between the ribs on the side with a small incision without cutting the frontal bone, patients can return to their daily activities such as driving and swimming more quickly. The recovery time is shorter and patients feel less pain. Additionally, the risk of postoperative infection is less in these patients. Having fewer surgical scars is also an important cosmetic advantage. As it is known, aesthetics is important for everyone at every age. The purpose of medicine is not only to keep people alive, but also to make them live quality lives and to ensure that they spend all their time well and enjoyable. "We believe that every patient who needs any type of valve and coronary bypass surgery deserves this comfort."
