The aim of minimally invasive surgery for congenital heart disease in paediatric patients is to reduce the trauma of the operation at each stage of management. In this Review, paediatric cardiac surgeons Emile Bacha and David Kalfa discuss various techniques for minimally invasive surgery, including sternal-sparing incisions, video-assisted thoracoscopic and robotically assisted surgery, hybrid procedures, and other trauma-sparing strategies. They also highlight the importance of multidisciplinary care, and emotional support for the patient and their family after hospital discharge.
