Tristate healthcare systems, a private hospital in Lagos, has reportedly performed Nigeria’s first minimally invasive heart surgery.

A minimally invasive heart surgery involves making small cuts, called incisions, in the chest.

The surgeon does not cut the breastbone as is the case with the traditional open-heart surgery, but reaches the heart by going between the ribs.

This type of heart surgery often means less pain and a quicker recovery for most people.

Surgeons at the Tristate hospital were said to have performed a coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) – off-pump, and mitral valve replacement on four different patients, while their hearts were still beating.

One of the patients was an 81-year-old woman who needed a valve replacement.

Speaking with Channels Television, Kamal Adeleke, renowned cardiologist and professor of medicine, said Tristate Healthcare had done over 120 normal open heart surgeries nationwide.

He said before the recent feat, Nigerians could only get life-saving minimally invasive heart surgeries in the West, India and South Africa.

“Now, we’re using techniques that have never been done in Nigeria. The first one is the minimally invasive heart surgery,” he said.

“Apart from the fact that it is minimally invasive, we also did not stop the heart. The heart was beating while the blood vessels were bypassed.

“As a Nigerian that loves Nigeria, you can’t be happier that Nigeria can really do this.

“Nigeria can come out of a mess. When Nigeria puts its mind to something, it becomes doable.”

[TheCable]