A 29-year-old male asked:
hi i'm getting open heart surgery in 2 months i'm wondering if there is anyway they won't have to break my sternum? will i lose muscle after surgery?
3 doctor answers
Dr. Robert Binford answered
38 years experience Thoracic Surgery
Maybe: It really depends on what type of surgery you need. It also depends on what your surgeon feels comfortable with. But a lot of mitral, aortic valve surgeries can be done this way. Also closing a hole like an ASD and doing limited bypasses at times. I tell my patients my first goal is to do a good job. My second goal is to do it "sexy". But good job comes first.
Answered on Dec 20, 2014
3
3 thanks
Dr. Divyakant Gandhi answered
45 years experience Thoracic Surgery
Yes depends on type: For instance mitral valve repair, atrial septal defect repair can be performed via small incision on the right side of chest and aortic valve replacement can be performed via small incision at the top of the chest.
Answered on Oct 4, 2016
1
1 comment
8
8 thanks
Dr. Robert Binford commented
38 years experience Thoracic Surgery
Also some bypasses can be done thru small incision between the ribs. Your surgeon can let you know.
Dec 17, 2012
Dr. Pankaj Kulshrestha answered
39 years experience Thoracic Surgery
Heart suregry: You will not lose muscle after surgery.
There are ways to avoid breaking sternum.
Depending on what kind of surgery, sternal incision may still be the safest choice.
Answered on Mar 1, 2019
1
1 thank
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A 44-year-old female asked:
Dr. Susan Rhoads answered
38 years experience Family Medicine
Can-opener!: Joke! They actually saw throw the bones and cartilage and use tools to spread the ribs farther apart. I bet there is a YouTube of it somewhere.
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