Dr. Thoralf Sundt answers the question: 'How Painful Is a Sternotomy Incision?' — -- Question: What is a sternotomy incision and how painful is it? Answer: A sternotomy incision is the usual ...

Thoracic aneurysm open surgery is a treatment for a thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA), a bulge in your aorta. The aorta, your body’s largest blood vessel, begins at your heart and extends into your ...

Laparotomy is the medical term for a type of open surgery of the abdomen. It allows surgeons to view the abdominal organs to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions. Here, we look at the types and ...

Is minimally invasive heart surgery to repair a mitral valve a safer option than open-heart surgery? Is it common for a surgeon to have to switch to an open-heart procedure after starting the surgery?

Minimally invasive, direct CABG is becoming the alternative of choice for cardiac surgeons over the older method of CABG. The main benefit of this new method is that it is less invasive, in addition ...

Surgical aortic valve replacement generally improves patients’ symptoms and prolongs survival. However, the perceived risk of surgical aortic valve replacement in patients over 80 may result in ...

Dear Mayo Clinic: Is minimally invasive heart surgery to repair a mitral valve a safer option than open-heart surgery? Is it common for a surgeon to have to switch to an open-heart procedure after ...