Minimally invasive · Decision guide
See what minimally invasive and robotic heart surgery actually mean.
Smaller chest incisions can preserve the breastbone and reduce the initial recovery burden for selected operations. The benefit depends on the procedure: a smaller scar does not by itself mean a more durable repair or a faster return to full fitness.
The UK Mini Mitral trial compared 330 adults having degenerative mitral repair through minithoracotomy or sternotomy.
Sources: UK Mini Mitral trial · JAMA (2023)
The same trial did not show superiority in its main physical-function measure. Discharge and full recovery are different outcomes.
Sources: UK Mini Mitral trial · JAMA (2023)
A robot assists the surgeon’s instruments. A heart-lung machine may still be used, and a larger incision may be needed for safety.
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Sources: Mayo Clinic: minimally invasive surgery · Multivessel coronary artery bypass grafting via small thoracotomy versus sternotomy (MIST): an investigator-initiated, international, open-label, randomised controlled trial
| Approach | Potential advantage | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Sternotomy | Broad access for cardiac work and combined procedures | The breastbone is divided and requires healing |
| Mini-sternotomy | More limited breastbone opening | Still involves bone healing and does not suit every procedure |
| Minithoracotomy | Access between the ribs without a full breastbone opening | Anatomy, exposure and associated procedures determine feasibility |
| Robot-assisted surgery | Surgeon-controlled precision instruments through limited chest access | Depends on a trained team and a suitable operative plan |
| Catheter treatment | Reaches the treatment site through blood vessels | Treats selected conditions; it is not a substitute for every surgical repair |
Sources: Mayo Clinic: minimally invasive surgery · ESC/EACTS valve guidance (2025)
The UK Mini Mitral randomized trial enrolled 330 adults undergoing repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation at 10 UK centres. Expert surgeons performed either minithoracotomy or conventional sternotomy.
Median hospital stay was five versus six days. The trial did not find superiority for the primary measure of physical function at 12 weeks. These results describe mitral repair in this study; they are not a comparison of every robotic operation or every surgeon.
Median postoperative hospital stay. The primary physical-function outcome at 12 weeks did not show superiority for minithoracotomy. Degenerative mitral repair, performed by expert surgeons.
Sources: UK Mini Mitral trial · JAMA (2023)
Smaller access can reduce scarring and selected early recovery burdens. In the mitral trial, the measurable gain was one fewer median hospital day; the primary 12-week functional result was not superior.
Heart-lung support may still be needed. A larger incision can become necessary for exposure or safety, and major cardiac-surgery risks remain.
Sources: UK Mini Mitral trial · JAMA (2023) · Mayo Clinic: minimally invasive surgery
The procedure must remain complete through the chosen access. Imaging defines the structures to treat and whether the route provides enough exposure.
The important correction differs by diagnosis: CABG must revascularize the required coronary territories; mitral surgery must provide a durable repair or replacement; HCM surgery must relieve the relevant obstruction and any contributing mitral abnormalities. An access technique does not replace those goals.
Sources: ACC revascularization guidance (2021) · ESC/EACTS valve guidance (2025) · AHA/ACC HCM guidance (2024)
Hisar advertises a $20,000 robotic CABG package with seven hospital days. Cui’s HCM programme has a $25,000–40,000 estimated programme cost. These are different operations, not two prices for the same treatment.
Hospital allowances, additional ICU days and unplanned procedures can affect the total. A package’s hotel duration does not establish fitness to fly.
Sources: Hisar robotic CABG — advertised Bookimed package · NHS: valve recovery
Explore each specialist’s clinical focus, current programme and the studies relevant to this treatment. The listed roles include cardiac surgeons and, where appropriate, interventional cardiologists.
Gebze, Kocaeli (Istanbul region) · Turkey
cardiac surgeon
Üstünsoy’s institutional profile includes minimally invasive and robotic cardiovascular surgery.
Sources: Prof. Haşim Üstünsoy | Anadolu Medical Center · Robotic Surgery — Anadolu Medical Center
Istanbul · Turkey
cardiac surgeon
Fedakar lists minimally invasive heart surgery and beating-heart coronary bypass among his interests.
Sources: Prof. Dr. Ali Fedakar, M.D. | Hisar Intercontinental Hospital
Gurugram · India
cardiac surgeon
Trehan’s clinical listing includes minimally invasive and robotically assisted cardiac surgery.
London · United Kingdom
cardiac surgeon
Rosendahl lists minimally invasive cardiac surgery alongside coronary, valve and aortic reconstruction.
Sources: Mr Ulrich Rosendahl | Royal Brompton & Harefield hospitals · Ulrich Rosendahl — clinical expertise and Royal Brompton location
Cleveland, Ohio · United States
cardiac surgeon
Gillinov practises robotic mitral surgery at Cleveland Clinic.
Sources: A. Marc Gillinov, MD | Cleveland Clinic · Early results of robotically assisted mitral valve surgery: Analysis of the first 1000 cases
Hangzhou · China
cardiac surgeon
Cui’s published myectomy approaches reach the heart through an incision near the right armpit.
Sources: An innovative minimally invasive approach for HOCM: transaortic septal myectomy via right infra-axillary incision · Minimally Invasive Electro Septal Myectomy for HOCM Through a Right Infra-Axillary Incision
Hangzhou, China
Yong Cui
Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital
A 4–5 cm underarm incision keeps the breastbone intact: no divided breastbone to heal while you rebuild walking and everyday activity.
$25,000–40,000 estimated cost
USD · estimated programme range · updated 8 October 2026.
Published 100-patient MESM series; separate 132-patient mid-cavity conference report and earlier 148-patient modified-Morrow study.
Cleveland, United States
Nicholas Smedira
Cleveland Clinic HCM Center
Specialist HCM imaging and myectomy that can also correct mitral-leaflet or papillary-muscle causes of obstruction.
Quote on request
Individual estimate after assessment.
A historical series of 1,559 LVOT operations, including 1,530 myectomies and 522 myectomies with mitral or subvalvular intervention.
New York, United States
Daniel Swistel · Joshua Scheinerman
NYU Langone Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Program
An HCM team that treats septal and mitral causes of obstruction, with conventional and selected robotic surgical approaches.
Quote on request
Individual estimate after assessment.
NYU reports more than 600 myectomies at programme level. Supporting method evidence includes a historical 77-patient anatomy study and a separate first robotic case report.
Istanbul, Turkey
Faruk Gençoğlu
Hisar Hospital Intercontinental
An advertised $20,000 robotic bypass package with preoperative tests, nursing, seven hospital days, hotel accommodation and transfers.
$20,000 advertised package
USD · advertised offer checked 8 October 2026.
An advertised named-surgeon package with explicit medical and travel services; no package-specific robotic CABG outcomes are supplied.
Barcelona, Spain
Xavier Ruyra Baliarda
Centro Médico Teknon
CABG with a named cardiac surgeon, preoperative specialist consultations, an individual room and five hospital days in the advertised package.
$41,411.97 advertised package
USD · observed 8 October 2026; individual quote required.
A named-surgeon CABG offer with defined medical inclusions. It supplies no package-specific outcomes cohort or comparative access-route results.
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Free Bookimed support. Compare options before deciding.
Free Bookimed support. Compare options before deciding.
