[Minimally invasive procedures in heart surgery. How does it work and who profits?]

The leading minimally invasive procedures employed in coronary surgery are minimally invasive direct coronary arterial bypass surgery (MIDCAB) and the Octopus system. These interventions are performed on the beating heart and require no extracorporeal circulation (ECC), thus avoiding the side effects, such as pulmonary or neurological complications, associated with ECC. In surgery on the mitral or aortic valve, the procedures are carried out via small incisions in the non-beating heart, and endovascular bypass systems (e.g. Port-Access) are sometimes needed for EEC. The advantages of small incisions are a reduction in the risk of infection, shorter hospital stay and, in particular, improved cosmesis. A disadvantage is the longer operating time. Only careful patients selection guarantees successful surgery.