I, along with my practice partner, Dr. Utpal Desai, regularly perform minimally invasive heart valve procedures at Advent Health Memorial Medical Center in Daytona Beach. We often operate together and are the regional experts in this field. At most hospitals including Advent Health, conventional ‘open heart surgery’ is performed by dividing the breast bone to reach the heart. However, Dr. Desai and I can repair or replace heart valves through a small incision or a minimally invasive approach. We perform these ‘mini’ operations essentially with the same duration of anesthesia and artificial circulation compared to the traditional open heart approach. Minimally invasive surgery is associated with a predictably lower risk of blood transfusion and wound infections. Most patients report minimal pain and often have shorter hospital stays and return to work sooner.