Bhubaneswar: Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), a leader in performing complex heart surgeries using minimally invasive techniques, recently conducted another such operation which eliminates the need to cut through the chest bone.
Dr Amit Kumar Agarwal, Consultant Cardiac Surgeon at KIMS, performed a minimally invasive mitral valve replacement on a 54-year-old man who was suffering from severe mitral valve stenosis in the heart’s left chamber.
Such surgeries generally require cutting through the sternum, which often results in significant postoperative pain and a long, prominent scar. However, in this advanced approach, a small incision is made on the side of the chest, and the surgeon operates between the ribs without cutting them.
“This technique significantly reduces postoperative pain, minimises bleeding, and leaves behind only a barely visible scar,” said Dr Agarwal, adding that the procedure demands exceptional surgical skills and specialised high-end instruments.
More female patients are opting for minimally invasive procedures, he informed.
Patients from different backgrounds prefer KIMS for such surgeries as the cost is lower here compared to other hospitals in Odisha.
KIMS has been performing a range of minimally invasive procedures, including coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and repairs of septal defects.
“In this era where less invasive procedures are gaining momentum, minimal and robotic surgeries are undoubtedly the future of cardiac care,” emphasised Dr Agarwal. The adoption of these methods has helped KIMS prevent patients from travelling out of Odisha for advanced cardiac surgeries, making it a hub of excellence in the region, said Dr Agarwal.
