Robotically Assisted Heart Surgery
New approaches to minimally invasive heart surgery

written with Tomislav Mihaljevic, M.D.
Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery

Robotically assisted heart surgery has changed the way certain heart operations are being performed. This technology allows cardiac surgeons to perform certain types of complex heart surgeries with smaller incisions and precise motion control, offering patients improved outcomes.

Who is a candidate for robotically assisted heart surgery?

Diagnostic tests are performed to determine if you are an appropriate candidate for robotically assisted heart surgery, including a chest xray and, in most cases, a cardiac catheterization. An echocardiogram and/or a computed tomography scan also may be required to provide more information about your medical condition.

Your surgeon will review the results of these diagnostic tests to determine if robotically assisted heart surgery is the right treatment approach for you. The type of treatment recommended for your condition will depend on several factors, including the type and severity of heart disease, your age, medical history and lifestyle.

What surgeries can be performed using the robotically assisted heart surgery technique?

• Mitral valve repair and replacement surgery and reoperations
• Tricuspid valve repair and replacement surgery and reoperations
• Combined mitral and tricuspid valve surgery
• Coronary artery bypass surgery
• Catheter ablation for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
• Atrial septal defect (ASD) repair
• Patent foramen ovale (PFO) repair
• Removal of cardiac tumors
• Lead placement

What are the benefits of robotically assisted heart surgery?

Compared with traditional surgery, the benefits of robotically-assisted surgery include:

• Smaller incisions with minimal scarring
• Less trauma to the patient, including less pain
• Shorter hospital stay (usually 3 to 4 days)
• Decreased use of pain medications
• Less bleeding
• Decreased risk of infection
• Shorter recovery and quicker return to daily and professional activities: The patient can resume normal activities and work as soon as he or she feels up to it; there are no specific activity restrictions after robotically-assisted surgery

If you would like to find out if you are a candidate for robot assisted heart surgery or learn more about minimally invasive heart surgery, click here to contact us or call the Heart and Vascular Institute Resource & Information Nurse at 216/445-9288 or toll-free at 866/289-6911,. We would be happy to help you.

Surgeons who perform robotically-assisted heart surgery

Robot assisted surgery is performed by specially trained cardiovascular surgeons. Cleveland Clinic Heart Surgeons who perform robotic assisted surgery include:

• Dr. Tomislav Mihaljevic - Cleveland Clinic Heart Center - Main Campus
• Dr. A. Marc Gillinov - Cleveland Clinic Heart Center - Main Campus
• Dr. Jose Navia - Cleveland Clinic Heart Center - Main Campus
• Dr. Douglas Boyd - Cleveland Clinic Florida Weston

Some of these surgeons perform only specific types of robotically assisted heart surgery. We would be happy to help you find the right surgeon to treat your medical condition.

For more information:

• How robotically assisted heart surgery works
• Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
• Heart Surgery
• daVinci® Cardiothoracic Surgery

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