Does sternotomy in cardiac surgery become obsolete in near future? Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) a single centre, single surgeon experience

Introduction: To compare Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) advantages, outcomes and complications with conventional sternotomy for cardiac surgeries. Methods: This is retrospective study included all patients who underwent minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) between January 2018 and December 2023.Our objective is to compare the various indicators of outcome between minimally invasive cardiac surgery and conventional sternotomy. 25 patients in each group, who got operated in Government general hospital, Kurnool for Cardiac problems and who meet the inclusion criteria are the study population. Patients are grouped into MICS and Sternotomy groups. preoperative investigations, 2D Echo, underwent surgery, intraoperative and postoperative data was collected. Results: There is statistical difference between the two groups in mechanical ventilation time, ICU stay time, Chest tube drainage, Hospital length of stay, Post op blood transfusions, Pain- Visual assessment Score, Patient satisfaction score, LVEF Immediate Post op, LVEF after 1month, Scar size. There is no statistical differences between the two groups among the lung complications, bleeding, post op stroke, peripheral vascular complications and mortality. Conclusion: MICS is significantly better than traditional sternotomy in terms of lesser mechanical ventilation time, ICU stay time, chest tube drainage, hospital length of stay, decreased post operative pain and increased patient satisfaction. Despite longer operative time, a minimally invasive approach was associated with a similar, or even lower, risk of adverse outcomes. Furthermore, the requirement for transfusions and postoperative blood loss was significantly less in the minimally invasive group. Thus we can say MICS has excellent efficacy and outcomes than traditional sternotomy and equally safe and feasible technique.