

Open heart surgery is any surgery where the chest is opened and surgery is performed on the heart. The term "open" refers to the chest, not the heart itself. The heart may or may not be opened, depending on the type of surgery.
The definition of open heart surgery becomes confusing in light of new procedures being performed on the heart through smaller incisions. There are some new surgical procedures being performed that are done with the heart still beating.
Minimally invasive heart surgery (MIDCAB, OPCAB, RACAB), including robotic-assisted heart surgery, is still considered open heart surgery. However, these procedures are being used in some patients as an alternative to open heart surgery requiring the heart-lung machine.
See also:
Heart surgery - open