Endoscopic cardiac surgery is a type of minimally invasive procedure performed on the heart through a small incision in the lateral chest region. This technique is mostly used today for the reconstructive treatment of diseased mitral valve. It also enables surgical intervention in case of certain heart defects in adults, some heart tumors etc. The incision is up to 5 cm long and is located on the anterior lateral chest region, in the groove under the nipple of the right breast. The camera is inserted through an incision of the minimum length of 8 – 10 mm. Due to their small size and position, the incisions are hidden after the procedure and are barely noticeable. The aesthetic effect, however, is just one of the advantages of this procedure. This minimally invasive approach ensures avoiding sternum cutting, which reduces the possibility of bone infection, reduces the intensity of pain after surgery, ensures shorter postoperative recovery period and quick return to everyday activities. Therefore, most patients who underwent this surgery are fully functional two to three weeks after the procedure. For example, a patient who underwent a classic, open-chest surgical procedure should not lie on his/her side for the next 6 weeks, until the sternum has healed. An endoscopically operated patient has no such restrictions and can return to his/her everyday activities almost immediately.
