Cardiac robotic surgery

Although cardiac robotic surgery requires the latest technology and highly skilled specialists, it’s pretty routine for us. After all, our physicians—who are among the world’s most experienced cardiothoracic surgeons who have developed and advanced the field of robotic heart surgery—have collectively performed more than 1,000 robotic cardiac procedures.

Our achievements include performing the region’s first robotic closed-chest single and double-beating heart bypass surgery. Our tools create high-definition visuals of the heart, which allows treatments to be as precise as possible.

Our care team includes physicians and health professionals from a variety of disciplines. They are specially trained in robotic surgery and have board certification within the field, which means you're being cared for by specialists who have undergone rigorous testing.

Your health is our priority. Our doctors rely on the latest in technology, including high-powered imaging and robotic tools, to provide you with the the finest in heart surgery treatments. Our cardiac robotic surgery treatments include:

• Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB)
• Mitral valve repair
• Totally endoscopic coronary bypass
• Atrial septal defect closure
• Atrial fibrillation surgery
• Robotic implantation of heart failure devices

The following is the typical order of events that will most likely occur during cardiac robotic surgery:

1. You will be placed under general anesthesia for the surgical procedure and a breathing tube will be placed.
2. A surgeon will make a series of keyhole-sized incisions on the side of your chest. These incisions will align with the openings between your ribs.
3. Depending on the procedure being performed, several precision-guided robotic arms will be inserted into these incisions.
4. These robotic arms hold and manipulate tiny instruments in order to perform the required tasks on the heart or surrounding arteries. 
5. A tiny video camera will be inserted into another incision to provide a magnified, 3D image of the operating site.
6. The surgeon will control the robotic arms and camera from a special console located within the operating room.
7. On completion of surgery, the surgeon will remove the instruments and close the incisions.

    
Once surgery is complete, you will be moved to the recovery area to be monitored. You can expect a relatively short hospital stay to follow, usually half as long as following conventional open heart surgery. Your doctors will typically discharge you once your pain is under control, you can retain liquids without nausea and vomiting, and you pass a number of lab tests.

The less invasive nature of robotic heart surgery also means that you can expect less scarring on your chest. This procedure just leaves a handful of smaller scars, as opposed to the 10-inch scar possible with conventional surgery.

Postsurgical pain also tends to go away much faster than with traditional procedures. After being discharged from the hospital, most patients can manage their pain with over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).

You may also return to normal activities more quickly than you would after conventional heart surgery. Most people can resume their normal activities after three weeks. Specific recommendations for activity will be provided by your doctor.

Your doctor will typically schedule follow-up appointments after the procedure to check your progress. Be sure to notify your doctor immediately if any symptoms occur after the procedure, such as chest pain or discomfort. After your surgery, complications are rare but possible, so it is important to carefully monitor for any symptoms and report them to your doctor.