The first minimal invasive coronary artery surgery (MICAS) was performed in Nashik by cardiac surgeon Dr Rahul Kaiche at Wockhardt hospital.

Two patients benefited from this technique, which is practiced by only a few surgeons all over the country.

Instead of the traditional method of making a central incision and opening the bone cage to enter the heart area, Dr Kaiche performed the coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery by making a small lateral incision on the left side of the chest. The MICAS was performed on the beating heart.

Explaining about the procedure, Dr Kaiche said, "MICAS is performed by making a very small incision and has multiple benefits over the traditional bypass surgery like the chest bone is kept intact, the recovery time is shorter, duration of hospitalisation of patient reduces, low risk of infection, low risk of bleeding or blood transfusion and one can return to normal routine in 3–4 days. The surgery is friendly on the pocket as well."

Dr Kaiche added that minimally invasive surgery can be performed for cardiac surgeries like CABG, valve replacement or hole in heart.

The first case was operated nearly three months ago when Bhagirathi Buva, a 55–year–old woman from Deolali, was admitted with a stent block in one blood vessel.

She had undergone an angioplasty earlier but was now facing intervention for the second time. She and her daughter gladly accepted this new technique and was successfully operated.

"I started working on the fourth day of my operation itself. I am fine and I can do all my work even in the farm", stated Buva.

Another patient, 51–year–old Bhagwan Bidkar from Dhule also underwent the surgery. His 100% blocked artery was operated on by MICS method. He too has recovered and is back to his job in the agricultural department.

Speaking about the feat achieved by Dr Kaiche and his team, Dr Shamim Khan, centre head, Wockhardt Hospitals, Nashik said, "Teamwork is always important in such arenas of healthcare. A team of experts, including three interventional cardiologists, two cardiac surgeons and two cardiac anesthetists, have performed these surgeries successfully. This will benefit the patients in north Maharashtra".