Herat surgery is a complicated medical procedure usually performed to correct congenital heart disease and repair issues you might develop later in your life. Medical advancements have introduced innovative ways to reduce the complications of life-saving procedures. One such advancement is robotic heart surgery. Surgeons usually recommend robotic heart surgery for mitral valve disease along with small cardiac tumours, tricuspid valve problems, atrial septal defects, congenital heart defects, and coronary artery bypass surgery.

However, not every heart disease and the patient can be treated with robotic heart treatment. For instance, if a patient needs multiple heart procedures, such as both coronary bypass and valve surgery, undergoing robotic surgery might be the right approach. In such a case, surgeons might suggest undergoing traditional open-heart surgery. 

So, to determine which heart surgical treatment is suitable for a specific heart disease, patients should be aware of both robotic and open-heart surgical methods. 

What is Robotic Heart Surgery?

Robotic heart surgery or robot-assisted heart surgery is a sort of minimally invasive cardiac surgery where surgeons use surgical tools and equipment attached to robotic arms to perform complex heart failure treatments or other operations. The robotic-assisted systems allow for high precision, greater flexibility, and control during the surgery. Moreover, surgeons make tiny incisions to access your heart.

How is Robotic Heart Surgery Performed?

The first step of robotic heart surgery involves giving you anaesthesia to cause you to sleep and not feel any pain during the surgery. Once you are asleep, your surgeon will insert a breathing tube through your throat into your lungs, and you will be connected to a ventilator to help you breathe during the heart treatment.

Now, the surgeon will make a few small incisions on the side of your chest to insert precision-guided robotic arms and a tiny video camera. He will operate from a console that provides a magnified 3D view of your heart, guiding the robotic arms to hold and manipulate tiny instruments to do necessary tasks on your heart or surrounding arteries. Once the surgery is complete, the surgeon will remove tools and close all incisions. 

Knowing the Benefits and Risks of Robotic Heart Surgery

Robotic heart surgery is gaining traction globally because of various perks compared to traditional surgery. However, like any other surgical treatment, robotic heart surgery also has certain risks. Let’s take a look:

Advantages | Risks
Less scarring and quicker recovery due to smaller incisions. | Although recovery is faster, the surgery may take longer to complete than traditional methods.
Reduced the risk of damage to surrounding tissues as robotic arms allow surgeons to make precise movements.
 | Not all patients are suitable candidates for robot-assisted congestive heart failure treatment, especially those with specific heart conditions or anatomical challenges.
Patients often experience less pain and reduced blood loss. | Equipment failure or technical difficulties can occur, requiring a quick switch to traditional open-heart surgery.
Faster recovery means patients can go home sooner but need to take prescribed heart failure medications and make lifestyle changes to maintain their health post-surgery. | Sometimes, patients might have problems associated with using anaesthesia. 
There’s less chance of post-operative infections because of smaller incisions.  | Other risks patients might experience post-operation include heart attack, stroke, bleeding, arrhythmias, or infection.

What is Traditional Heart Surgery?

Traditional heart surgery is particularly done to perform coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Surgeons also recommend this conventional heart treatment to treat conditions related to coronary arteries.

This surgical procedure involves making a large incision down the middle of your chest to open the ribcage and access your heart. Surgeons then operate directly on your heart to treat the conditions that affect your heart and connected blood vessels:

• Aneurysms (bulges in your heart muscle or artery walls)
• Congenital heart disease (present at your birth)
• Arrhythmias (too fast, too slow, or irregular heartbeat)
• Heart failure
• Heart valve disease
• Coronary artery disease (CAD)

How is Traditional Heart Surgery Performed?

Traditional heart surgery usually includes open-heart, off-pump bypass, and minimally invasive heart surgery. No matter what type of heart surgery the patients go through, they are placed under general anaesthesia. 

During the surgery, a surgeon will make a large 10-to-12-inch incision on your chest, cut through the sternum, and open the ribcage to access your heart. Depending on the procedure, your heart might temporarily stop. In such a case, a heart-lung machine is used to maintain blood circulation. 

Then, your surgeon performs the necessary operation, such as off-pump bypass surgery for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) or bypassing one or two coronary arteries. Once the surgery is complete, your heart is restarted, you are taken off the heart-lung machine, and the surgeon closes your chest.

Knowing the Benefits and Risks of Traditional Heart Surgery

Although traditional heart surgery is a complex surgical procedure with its own shared risk, it also offers several advantages. Let’s take a look:

Advantages  | Risks
Surgeons can treat a wide range of heart conditions, including those that can’t be treated with minimally invasive techniques. | Larger incisions can cause damage to surrounding healthy tissues. 
Traditional heart surgery allows surgeons to directly view and access the patient’s heart, making it easier to handle complex cases. | More invasive congestive heart failure treatment can pose a greater risk of post-operative infections. 
A lower risk of stroke or memory loss | Traditional heart surgery typically involves more blood loss, which may necessitate blood transfusions.
Lower death rate, especially among high-risk patients and women | Patients may experience more pain after surgery due to larger incisions and, thus, require stronger pain management.
Fewer heart rhythm problems | Post-operative risks like blood loss, damaged healthy tissues, infections, pain, and discomfort can lead to longer hospital stays and recovery periods.

Which Surgical Procedure is Suitable for You - Robotic or Traditional Heart Surgery?

When it comes to deciding between robotic and traditional heart surgery, your surgeon will consider several factors, such as your current health condition, heart disease, severity of the heart complication, age, gender, and many more. 

Do you need less complex heart surgical procedures, such as valve repairs or certain bypass surgeries? Are you in good health? If so, your doctor might advise you to undergo a robotic cardiac surgery as it’s minimally invasive, involves small incisions and precise, robot-assisted movements, and causes fewer post-operative risks. 

Traditional heart surgery, on the other hand, might be best suited for more intricate or multiple heart issues, as it allows direct access to the heart. 

To sum up it all!

With the advancement of robot-assisted heart treatment, now patients no longer need to rely on relatively more risky conventional heart procedures. But, robotic heart surgery might not be suitable for all patients. Knowing everything about robotic and traditional heart surgeries, from their suitability and procedure to benefits and risks, can help you make an informed choice based on your health profile.

Do you want to consult the experienced heart specialists in India to choose between robotic and traditional heart surgery? Book an appointment with a Medanta cardiologist today!