Dr. Joseph McGinn is the mastermind behind a more than decade old heart procedure that is having a world-wide impact.
Carolinas HealthCare System's Dr. McGinn says he saw a need for an invasive heart procedure, sparking his determination to find a way to make it happen. "I saw a really serious need for this, most of the specialities in medicine have developed minimally invasive techniques for performing their procedures. Heart surgery was a lot more challenging because the heart is obviously continually moving,” said Dr. McGinn.
But, the challenge would present itself in multiple ways. "We needed to figure out a way of getting to the heart, without getting to the breastbone which is the standard way, so typically we make a long incision, in front of the chest, through the breastbone, so-called 'crack the breastbone,' and then, we have access to the heart. So in order, for us to do, this, we had to figure out a way to get in between the ribs, without breaking muscle,” said Dr. McGinn.
They found that by making three incisions, doctors could access to the heart, without cracking the breastbone. "We have the instruments going through portals and then the main incision, which is a very small incision between the ribs, you can see where the actual action is taking place; that's where the bypass is actually happening," said Dr. McGinn.
For Dr. McGinn, who recently joined Carolinas HealthCare System in 2016, believes this is just the beginning of looking into ways to help others live longer, healthier lives. "It doesn't stop there. We have gone way past that. We've gone to a point where not only are they going home and getting healthy, but now they are going home and getting healthy quickly," said Dr. McGinn.
In 2016, Dr. McGinn performed his one-thousandth case.