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Heart Surgery Technic Requires Much Smaller Incision
12/03/08 - 11:17 AM
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The surgery is the same. But the scar is much smaller.
That’s why cardiovascular surgeon Chance Dewitt, M.D., recently chose to do an aortic valve replacement on a 44-year-old offshore oil worker through a 3 ½ inch incision at Rapides Regional Medical Center.

“Before, you would do this type of surgery through a 12- to 14-inch incision. You would have had to open the entire sternum. But with a smaller incision you only have to open it half-way.”

This means less post-operative pain for the patient and an early return to regular activities. DeWitt’s patient, Allen McCartney of Winnfield, had surgery on a Thursday and was out of the hospital by noon the following Monday. He recently returned to his job as a ballast control room operator in Israel.

It’s all part of the movement to make surgery as un-invasive as possible – to benefit the patient as much as possible.

For more information on cardiology/cardiac vascular programs at Rapides Regional Medical Center, please call 318.769.3135.

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