Over the last few years, the treatment of cardiac pathologies has evolved in line with the development of new techniques and technologies with the aim of providing the user with increasingly efficient healthcare services even in the most critical cases with a high risk of mortality. At the same time, the figure of the cardiac surgeon has also changed and therefore the training of future specialists who must have correct and much broader preparation in their background than in the past. The Cardiac Surgery Unit, directed by Prof. Pasquale Mastroroberto, provides services both elective and in urgency/emergency 24/7 using latest generation techniques and materials such as new cardiac valve prostheses even without the use of sutures, minimally invasive surgical accesses, mini-extracorporeal circulation.
“In the AOURDulbecco of Catanzaro – declares Prof. Mastroroberto, director of Cardiac Surgery of the Germaneto unit and of the Integrated Cardiovascular Care and Intensive Care Department – there is an active program dedicated to the minimally invasive treatment of diseases of the mitral valve, aortic valve and coronary arteries. The program was born from a training and collaboration path with international centers specialized in minimally invasive cardiac surgery and is characterized by the use of accesses via mini-thoracotomy, mini-sternotomy and trans-axillary approach. The latter is an absolute novelty in recent years and allows direct vision even without the need to use an external screen. Unlike traditional surgery, which generally requires the complete opening of the sternum, minimally invasive cardiac surgery uses much smaller incisions a quicker return to normal activities.
The tools aimed at improving patient outcomes – continues Mastroroberto – also include advanced and miniaturized extracorporeal circulation systems, the machine that temporarily carries out the work of the heart and lungs during surgery. These technologies allow the procedure to be managed in a more targeted way, always within a “teamwork” involving cardiac surgeons, anesthetists, perfusionists, nurses and other healthcare professionals.
The development of minimally invasive cardiac surgery – concludes Mastroroberto – represents an important investment for Calabrian healthcare, offering patients in the area highly specialized assistance, reducing healthcare migration towards other regions.