Strong Heart and Vascular Center
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery
The First Cardiac Case Using Robotic Surgery Technology
The first cardiac case - a mitral valve repair - was performed Thursday, September 25, 2003 by a cardiac team led by surgeons Peter Knight, M.D., and George Hicks Jr., M.D. The patient, a 60-year-old woman from Rochester, is doing well and was discharged Monday, September 29th.
"We couldn't be more pleased with the outcome," says George
Hicks, chair of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery
at Strong Memorial Hospital. "The repair to her heart went
perfectly, and her recovery as a result of the less-invasive
procedure is
going as planned."
Watch the video of this cardiac case using robotic surgery technology
About the First Cardiac Patient To Have Robotic Surgery
The woman underwent surgery Thursday morning using the daVinci Surgical System, now being utilized by the Strong Heart and Vascular Center for cardiac-related surgery, such as atrial septal defect closures, certain types of coronary artery surgery, and mitral valve repair and replacement. It also is being used for general surgery, as well as urology cases, such as radical prostatectomy and pyeloplasty (renal pelvis reconstruction). The procedures are done laparoscopically, eliminating the need for large incisions.
In this case, involving the repair of the patient's mitral valve, one 2-inch incision and three 1-inch incisions were made under her left arm, in lieu of the traditional 6- to 8-inch chest incision typically made for heart surgeries.
How Robotic Surgery Works
The leading-edge technology consists of a robotic arm that performs surgeries using movements that replicate a surgeon's motions. The movements are controlled from across the room by a surgeon using virtual images provided by laparoscopic cameras. More about how robotic surgery works
Benefits of Robotic Surgery
The benefits of the technology have a significant impact on patients and their outcomes. Because the cases are done laparoscopically, significantly smaller incisions are made that result in faster recovery time and a lower chance of infection or other complications. The procedures themselves can be even more accurate than traditional surgery, with steadier "hands" at the surgical site being directed by a surgeon.
"This is the future of surgery," says Peter Knight, who operated the robotic technology. "The benefits to patients are enormous, highlighted by less-invasive and more accurate surgery and improved recovery. We are pleased to offer this to patients who require heart, general or urological surgical treatment."