Chennai, October 05, 2026: A team of doctors from MGM Healthcare travelled to Iraq to perform minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery on two patients with life-threatening conditions, introducing the advanced technique to local medical professionals and providing an opportunity for knowledge-sharing and clinical learning.
The team, comprising 10 doctors, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, ICU nurses, and scrub nurses, stayed in Karbala in central Iraq for over a week, training local medical professionals in minimally invasive procedures while also performing surgeries on two patients. The team was headed by Dr. Vinod Kumar Manikala, Senior Consultant, Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgeon, and had carried all the specially designed equipment required to perform the surgeries.
The team performed Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery–Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (MICS-CABG) on a 100-kilogram patient who had blockages in three coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart. Through a small, 2-inch incision on the left side of the chest, the team successfully performed the bypass procedure on the patient’s beating heart, without opening the breastbone.
Conventionally, open heart bypass surgery will be performed on patients with blockages in arteries. It requires at least a 10-12 inch incision and opening the breastbone. It also requires a prolonged rest period for recovery.
The team has also performed Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) on a man whose portion of lung was dilated and infected. Through a 2-inch unilateral incision on the left chest, they had sent a tiny camera and specialised instruments into the chest to remove the diseased portion of the lung.
Both the patients had recovered quickly without any risks and returned home. They are under constant monitoring.
On comparison with traditional methods, minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery offers several advantages, including smaller incisions, reduced damage to surrounding tissues, less postoperative pain and blood loss, and a lower risk of certain wound-related complications.
By avoiding the need for a large chest incision and cutting of the breastbone, this technique can help patients mobilise earlier and achieve a faster recovery, resulting in an earlier return to normal activities. The approach enables surgeons to perform complex procedures through specialised instruments and advanced surgical techniques.
In his comments, Dr. Vinod Kumar Manikala said, “A team from MGM Healthcare travelled to Kerbala in Iraq to train local doctors and medical professionals in minimally invasive cardiothoracic procedures, which are relatively new to them. During our week-long visit, we had the opportunity to share our expertise and experience in these advanced surgical techniques, conduct hands-on training and perform complex procedures on patients. It was a valuable opportunity for knowledge exchange and capacity building, enabling the local medical team to gain practical exposure to minimally invasive approaches and understand how these techniques can be adopted in appropriate cases.”