November 19, 2010
School of Medicine, Kochi
 

The Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at the Amrita School of Medicine organized a two-day live workshop on minimally-invasive mitral valve repair and replacement methods.
 

A minimally invasive surgery, unlike open surgeries, requires only one or two small incisions.
 

Cardiac surgeries using this modern technique will commence in Amrita from January 2011.
 

“Mitral valve repair is an excellent technique and has many advantages over mitral valve replacement in selected cases,” stated Dr. Shiv. K. Nair, Professor and Head at the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at Amrita.
 

“The technique reduces the risk of embolism and bleeding and also helps in preserving the functioning of the heart,” he added.
 

The mitral valve and the tricuspid valve control the flow of blood between the atria and the ventricles of the heart.
 

In mitral valve repair, the patient’s own valve is repaired. Normally, valve surgeries are done by splitting the sternum (breast bone) with a long incision measuring approximately 20 to 22 cm.
 

A minimally invasive approach, the valve will be repaired through a small incision of about 7 cm on the side of the chest between the ribs.
 

In the minimally invasive approach, the valve is repaired through a small incision of about 7 cm on the side of the chest between the ribs.
 

“This minimally invasive technique can reduce the risk of pain, bleeding, infection and also the length of hospital stay of a patient,” stated Dr. Nair.
 

A live mitral valve repair surgery using the minimally-invasive approach was successfully conducted as part of the workshop. The surgery was guided by Dr. Shiv K. Nair with the support of a cardiac surgeon from Italy.
 

We wish the very best to the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery as it embarks on this new initiative at Amrita.