Congenital heart defects (CHD) cause structural problems in the heart, and it develops before birth. CHD-related functional issues stop regular blood flow through the heart, however, this problem is more serious in some children than others. The majority of children with congenital heart disease survive to adulthood thanks to modern advancements in diagnosis and treatment procedures! 

The development of several minimally invasive surgical techniques has advanced significantly in recent years, and one such advancement is robotic surgery, which offers significant benefits. In a typical open-heart procedure, the breast bone is cut open and requires a surgical incision of 10 to 12 inches into the sternal bone in the median sternotomy approach. But the incisions between the ribs are substantially smaller with robotic surgery, which reduces the traumatic impact of the procedure since it avoids major incisions and does not require cutting the sternum.

In the year 2019 alone, congenital heart disease was responsible for more than 200,000 deaths, and every year, 1.3 million children are born with CHD globally. Furthermore, this number is only rising, but fortunately, robotic surgery has become a crucial lifeline to treat the affected children! 

What is Robotic Heart Surgery?

In robotic heart surgery, a surgeon uses robotic arms to handle tiny surgical instruments to complete the heart surgery! It is a form of minimally invasive cardiac surgery, and in contrast to routine open heart surgery, the surgeon does not make a large incision in the chest. The methods surgeons used for some heart surgeries have completely altered as a result of robot assisted surgery because this process enables them to make fewer, smaller incisions during complicated cardiac procedures. 

With the use of a surgical robot, doctors most frequently carry out the repair of the mitral valve, closing specific types of holes in the heart, removal of malignant or benign tumor growths, and other similar procedures. A computer-enhanced robotic system used by surgeons consists of a high-definition camera that enables a surgeon to observe the surgery area in 3D high definition and zoom in for a close-up! In addition, more accuracy and a greater range of motion are made possible by the instruments’ slender robotic arms that replicate the motion of human fingers, wrists, and hands. The surgeon is always in charge of a control panel that converts the surgeon's hand and wrist motions into accurate surgical instrument movements. 

What are Congenital Heart Defects?

A structural problem with the heart that exists from birth is known as congenital heart disease (CHD), and these problems prevent blood from flowing normally from the heart. The most common issues related to this disease are: 

• A hole in the wall of the heart 
• Issues with the blood-flow-regulating cardiac valves
• The blood vessels may be too numerous or too few
• Blood may be flowing too slowly, in the incorrect direction, or to the wrong location from the heart

Certain congenital heart defects are straightforward and may not exhibit any symptoms, others, however, may be fatal and need treatment throughout infancy and even later in adulthood. Early detection of cardiac abnormalities is possible, however, too many receive the diagnosis during adolescence or adulthood because of the type of CHD they have. 

Two primary categories of CHD are cyanotic congenital heart disease and acyanotic congenital heart disease. In the cyanotic condition, the blood receives low oxygen levels, and in the acyanotic condition, the blood oxygen level is generally adequate.  

Available Treatments for CHD

The type and severity of a child's congenital heart defects determine how they should be treated by their doctor. Certain congenital cardiac problems do not affect a child's health in the long run, and sometimes, as a child gets older, congenital heart problems, such as a tiny hole in the heart, may close on their own. However, treatment for severe congenital heart defects must begin as soon as they are discovered. 

Among the possible treatments are medications, cardiac treatment, heart surgery, and heart transplant.  

Cardiac catheterization 
 | Catheters are thin, flexible tubes that can be used to correct some congenital heart abnormalities in infants, and these therapies enable physicians to repair the heart without the need for open heart surgery. The physician directs a catheter to the heart by inserting it into a blood artery, often in the groin, and then the physician inserts small instruments via the catheter to treat the cardiac issue. For instance, using this method the surgeon would repair constriction or holes in the heart, but remember, certain catheter treatments must be administered gradually over several years.

Heart surgery
 | To fix a congenital heart defect, a child or adult may require open heart surgery or robot-assisted heart surgery to correct the problem.  

Heart transplant
 | A heart transplant may be required if a significant congenital heart defect cannot be corrected by other treatment methods.

Robotic Surgery Treatment of Congenital Heart Defects

Although robotic heart surgery uses less invasive methods, the process is comparable to open heart surgery, which means that the procedure is carried out similarly but with fewer cuts and smaller incisions. The surgeon will do the required repairs using the surgical tools that are fastened to the robotic arm, and usually, the patient's cardiac condition will determine the exact technique used in the surgery. 

Before the treatment begins, a medical professional will provide anaesthetic to you, as a result, you will fall asleep and experience no pain during the procedure.  

• A breathing tube will be placed into your lungs through your throat after you are under anaesthesia. Throughout the procedure, a device known as a ventilator will be attached to you that will keep you breathing normally.  
• Small-sized incisions will be made on the side of your chest by the surgeon, and your rib apertures will line up with these cuts. Remember that, for the procedure, you might have to be put on the heart-lung machine. 
• Precisely guided surgical robot arms will be inserted into these incisions by the surgeon. To perform the necessary operations on the heart or nearby arteries, these robotic arms grasp and control small devices, and precise motions and control are made possible by the very advanced robotic arm technology.
• Another incision will be used to insert a small video camera so that it can give a three-dimensional, enlarged view of the operation location. 
• To operate the robotic arm, the surgeon will utilize a computer console so that they can see exactly what they are doing and manoeuvre the robotic arm precisely during the whole process.  

Conclusion 

Children born with congenital heart defects especially atrial septal defects can benefit greatly from the tremendous advancements made in recent years in the heart surgery field, especially with the introduction of heart surgery by robots. However, for the treatment of congenital heart defect symptoms, it's critical to consult a cardiologist who specializes in CHD! If surgery is needed because other treatments failed, always connect with a surgeon who has experience in robot-assisted operations since these types of surgeries use cutting-edge technology and need special expertise on the surgeon's part. 

To consult with the top cardiologists in India, simply give Medanta a call, and the organization will arrange an appointment without delay!