Hyderabad Star Hospital adds Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS) Unit

Hyderabad, January 16, 2012: Nearly 200 to 300 centers in USA are doing Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgeries(MICS). So also in Europe and other places. MICS surgeries are becoming the order of the day. Increasing number of patients are opting for these quick procedures that heal faster and involve no breaking of bones.

Keeping this changing trend and to offer better services to patients, Hyderabad’s STAR Hospitals just launched a dedicated unit for Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS) at their Banjara Hills premises. Disclosing this Dr. Gopichand Mannam, MD of STAR Hospitals, informed that Minimally invasive methods have been there since 1997. Nearly 2000 procedures are done across India. But what is new is that people are more aware and now started accepting them. And a lot more procedures can be done through this approach hereafter.

To coincide with the inauguration of the MICS unit an International Workshop on Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery is being conducted in city today and tomorrow. Eminent surgeons from Ottawa, Canada, Duluth, USA and from different centers in India are participating in a surgical workshop and sharing their experience with the delegates from all over the country.

Dr. Marc Ruel, MD, Ottawa, Canada, Full Professor & Endowed Cardiac Surgery Research Chair at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and Dr. Konda Subba Reddy - Duluth, USA. Consultant Cardio Thoracic Surgeon, St Mary's Duluth Clinic Medical Centre will speak at the workshop. Dr. Marc Ruel is a pioneer in minimally invasive cardiac surgery and has developed novel techniques that he teaches to surgeons across countries.

MICS is favored by surgeons and patients because of reduced post-operative discomfort, faster healing times and lowered risk of infections or complications. Thanks to this new technique, there is no splitting of the breastbone. So there is a dramatic reduction in pain, lower risk of infection, bleeding, reduced ICU (Intensive Care Unit) and hospital stay. This will also enable an improved postoperative lung function. This procedure also ensures improved quality of life and greatly improved cosmetic results. Hence it is preferred by many now. Currently the cost of the procedure is slightly more compared to the traditional operation because of the specialized equipment for these procedures. However, not all the patients will be eligible to go through this procedure.

Dr. Gopichand Mannam, MD of STAR Hospitals, Hyderabad, and his surgical team, have long recognized the importance of MICS in selected patients, with commendable success. He is among the first of the surgeons in the country to have done small incision CABG, ASD closures and valve replacements through the side of the chest, way back in the late 1990’s. Dr. Gopichand is also credited with the earliest use of robotics in cardiac surgery in our state. Currently, with the availability of new age cutting edge technology, and improved understanding of the nuances in small incision surgeries, the surgical group headed by Dr. Gopichand Mannam at STAR Hospitals, Hyderabad, is launching a dedicated unit for MICS, at their Banjara Hills premises. The team has a combined experience of doing more than 17000 open heart surgeries, including a few cases with small cuts on the chest (minimally invasive), with excellent results that are comparable with any surgical centre around the world. Now, with the newly acquired state of the art technology and the profound surgical experience that the group possesses, we are ready to launch the minimally invasive program.

Issued for and on behalf of Star Hospitals by: L. Narender, 9849020296