In recent years, the medical field has seen a significant advancement in robotic heart surgery, leading to an increase in cardiac surgery success rate and patient care. This type of contemporary approach to robotic heart surgery uses cutting-edge technology to carry out complex operations with more accuracy and fewer postoperative issues! Many people have this notion that robotic surgeries are completely carried out by intelligent robots but that cannot be any further from the truth. 

This minimally invasive procedure uses the help of a specially made robot, but the surgeon controls the robotic arms of the robot that carry and move surgical equipment during the operation, the surgeon is always present in the operating room and controls the computer console from there at every moment. Nearly half a million people underwent heart surgery in 2018 alone in the USA, and there were around 200,000 coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) operations and around 110,000 valve operations performed. These numbers show the importance of progress in the minimally invasive heart surgery field, which can only be done through modern innovations such as robotics assistance! 

What Exactly is Robotic Heart Surgery?

The use of robotic technologies for surgeries first started with the introduction of minimally invasive surgery for cardiac issues! By using tiny incisions, robotic heart surgery eliminates the necessity for a complete sternotomy that causes a large open wound. The benefits of robotic heart surgery include reduced postoperative discomfort, less bleeding during the surgery, and an accelerated healing process, all of which help with an early discharge of the patient from the hospital.  

The technological benefits of robotic surgery for cardiac care include increased dexterity due to the devices' six-degree-of-freedom movement, and the other main benefit is tremor prevention during the surgical process. Furthermore, visibility during surgery is significantly enhanced by the three-dimensional (3D) high-definition imaging, and the absence of tactile feedback is replaced by improved visual feedback that helps the surgeon observe tissue displacement and deformation during surgery. 

What are the Heart Conditions Being Treated by Robotic Heart Surgery?   

You need to remember that this robotic heart surgery process is not for everyone, and certain individuals may not be candidates for robotic surgery, depending on their age, medical history, present state of health, and the severity of their disease. Following a comprehensive examination, the doctor will take a call in this respect and decide which type of procedure is appropriate for the patient. 

These are the heart conditions that are often treated with modern robot-assisted procedures: 

• Mitral valve operations

The left atrium and left ventricle are separated by the mitral valve, also known as the bicuspid valve, which consists of two flaps that open and close tightly to permit blood flow in one direction while blocking blood flow in the other direction. Some patients have blood leakage as a result of the valve's wear and tear over time, which makes it difficult for the valve to open or close, and this causes health issues. Alternatively, the flaps may stiffen for a variety of reasons and fail to shut promptly causing further problems.

In certain situations, the valve has to be replaced with a new one, but in other situations, the issue may be fixed by a surgical repair. In the past, open operations were used for these repairs or replacements but now, because of the benefits of robot-assisted surgery doctors usually prefer to use this process to make valve replacement or repair faster, more accurate, and more efficient. 

• Correction of atrial septal defect

A small hole between the heart's top chambers, or atria, is known as an atrial septal defect, and it is a congenital ailment that has existed in the patient since birth. This can overwork the heart's right chambers and cause the lungs to overfill with blood, as a result, the right side will get bigger and weaker with time. Pulmonary hypertension is the result of an increase in lung pressure! During robot-assisted surgery, the hole is repaired with a membrane, either a pericardium or an artificial patch correct the defect permanently. 

• Totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass (TECAB)

One of the several revascularization techniques used to clear blockages in the heart's coronary arteries is TECAB, while the other techniques include OPCAB (Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass) and CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting). TECAB uses four to five tiny incisions instead of a large incision through the breastbone, and robotic arms and tools are used to perform the treatment with efficiency. 

• Intracardiac tumor resection

The heart is susceptible to tumor development, just like any other part of the body, and it can be extremely harmful to the patient if not treated correctly before it is too late! High fever, persistent exhaustion, leukocytosis, heart failure, dyspnea (shortness of breath), embolisms (blocked arteries), arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythm), hemorrhagic pericardial effusion (an abnormal build-up of fluid in the pericardial cavity), and cardiomyopathy are just a few of the symptoms and outcomes that may result from this. Depending on the precise location and severity of the condition these tumors can be completely removed using robotic surgery.

Future Innovations Can Upgrade the Instruments Used in Robotic Heart Surgery 

Modern technology is used in robotic heart surgery to precisely execute cardiac operations and offer cardiac rehabilitation to the patient. However, at the pace technology is improving, it is natural to assume that the tech products currently being used for robot-assisted surgery will see further upgrades and improve the surgery process even more. 

These are the instruments currently used in robotic heart surgery: 

Robotic arms
 | The surgeon operates the robotic arms from a console in the operating room and the arms have more flexibility than human hands because they can bend and rotate more effectively.

Tools to Make Tiny Cuts
 | The robot-assisted surgery process only requires extremely small incisions and precise cuts, which are done by super effective surgical tools. 

Small Camera for 3D Real-time Visuals
 | During surgery, surgeons can navigate the inside of the body precisely because of the ability to examine comprehensive 3D pictures of the heart that the robot-assisted camera can produce.

Conclusion 

Numerous benefits such as increased surgical accuracy, smaller incisions, less blood loss, and a decreased chance of infection come from robotic heart surgeries, which have made this process the most praised among doctors and patients alike. After this surgery, patients are closely watched in the heart hospital in intensive care before being transferred to a normal ward for further observation. 

However, patients recover quickly after a robot-assisted heart surgery or any other type of surgery since the wounds are much smaller than an open surgery, and so is the amount of blood loss. Remember, only your doctor will know your health condition following the operation, and can provide the right advice to get you back to full health.

To consult with a cardiac surgeon about robotic heart surgery, you can contact Medanta right now and receive an appointment to discuss your problems with a specialist!