How does one diagnose conditions before minimally invasive heart surgery?

Variable: The usual prerequisite prior to almost any cardiac surgery is a cardiac catheterization; coronary angiograms (x-ray pictures of dye flowing into the heart arteries), pictures of the main pumping chamber (left ventriculography) and pressure measurements. Other possible tests include echocardiography (a sound wave exam of the heart), a perfusion imaging study ("nuclear stress test") or even ct/mri.

Tests: Ecg, echocardiography, cardiac caths are some of the tests used. Your underlying heart disease will determine if mics can be done.