The HOMS Cardiovascular Center, and specifically its Cardiovascular Surgery Service, continues to advance in the implementation of new techniques that are safer for its patients.

Dr. Reynaldo Vargas, together with the international consultant surgeon in cardiovascular surgery, Dr. Miguel Angel Carrasco (Spain), have initiated the program of minimal access heart valve surgery at the Hospital Metropolitano de Santiago de los Caballeros (HOMS), thus increasing the quality of care for our patients and placing our hospital as a reference for this surgery in the country.

In Paris, in 1996, Dr. A. Carpentier was the first to repair a mitral valve by minimal access techniques, and by 1999, 568 mitral valve replacements had been performed worldwide, 491 repairs, in a total of approximately 104 centers. In this case, it consisted of minimizing the aggression to the patient by making small incisions of greater esthetics than those normally proposed, improving the postoperative evolution, being possible to uncouple the patient early from the artificial ventilator, in addition to minimal bleeding during and after surgery and less pain. All this facilitates an early discharge and faster incorporation of the patient to his daily activities.

Both the traditional surgical approach, with a large anterior chest wound, and the minimally invasive approach are safe surgical approaches. However, the minimally invasive technique has important advantages in terms of the incidence of complications, hospital stay and quality of life. The reduced surgical trauma results in fewer reoperations due to bleeding and a decrease in blood transfusions.

This is because, compared to a complete sternotomy, minimally invasive surgery reduces postoperative pain, less painkillers are consumed and patient comfort is increased. The greater stability of the sternum allows patients to mobilize and thus they can undergo respiratory physiotherapy more effectively, with a consequent reduction in respiratory complications.