[Hybrid operation theatre from the point of view of cardiac surgery. The future for the heart team]

Abstract

Nowadays, increasing numbers of procedures jointly conducted by cardiac surgeons and cardiologists are performed as minimally invasive surgical procedures or interventions. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation, endovascular aortic aneurysm repair and a large variety of hybrid procedures for congenital heart disease have become current standards. Some of these hybrid procedures were shown to improve the therapeutic safety and efficacy, effects particularly true for high-risk patients and complex interventions. Hybrid procedures require indirect imaging, commonly provided by an angiography system in the hybrid operation theatre. This article describes the technical prerequisites required for a hybrid operation theatre as well as indications and rationales for hybrid procedures conducted in this environment. It is likely that the indications for cardiovascular hybrid procedures will continue to be expanded and that the hybrid operation theatre may become a laboratory for developing innovative approaches in the cardiovascular field. Therefore, the hybrid operation theatre will not only be the working environment for hybrid surgeons and interventionalists but also help to evolve their future.