With the cardiac endoscopy the patient is operated without practicing the "sternotomy", that is to say the classical surgical incision, but with a cut of about three or four centimeters in which an endoscopic camera is introduced, that reaches the heart and allows a complete and detailed vision. Once the extracorporeal circulation has been implanted, the surgeon operates using specific endoscopic instruments that allow for minimal invasiveness of the heart. This is a new way of operating: the surgeon, in fact, works directly on the heart no longer looking inside the chest - it would be impossible given the reduced size of the incision - but on the screen connected to the camera, which gives an extremely enlarged and detailed vision of the heart, making precise and targeted surgical gestures possible.

This technique has significant advantages for the patient: it allows a significant reduction in surgical trauma and pain, a lower incidence of infections, a shorter hospitalization and a faster post-operative recovery. In addition, the small size of the surgical cut offers a better aesthetic result.

The surgical incision is usually made on the contour of the areola of the nipple in men, or under the breast in women, resulting in little visibility.

Minimally invasive videothoracoscopic surgery allows the treatment of mitral, aortic and tricuspid valve pathologies, even in the most complex cases. With this surgical approach it is also possible to remove heart tumors, correct some congenital defects and heart rhythm disorders such as atrial fibrillation.

There are no absolute contraindications to the application of cardiac endoscopy, but some particular contraindications relating to certain physical or clinical conditions of the patient. For example, this type of surgery is not suitable for people who have already performed cardiac surgery in the past or who suffer from major lung or chest diseases. Under these conditions, an in-depth specific assessment is carried out to assess the risks and benefits of the intervention on a case-by-case basis.

With this method of access, Dr Al Jaber has performed at the Monzino over 150 procedures of mitral, tricuspid and cardiac mass removal valvular plastics. The Doctor has personal cases of about 1,000 cases treated with this method.