Robotic Cardiac Surgery
Minimally invasive surgical techniques are now
widely used to provide patients with less pain
and faster recovery time. Limitations in surgical
equipment have prohibited their use during heart
bypass surgery -- until now.
The advancement of computerized robotic technology
is one of the most exciting breakthroughs in surgery
to date, enabling surgeons to perform complete,
bypass surgery less invasively. Penn Cardiac Care
at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
is proud to be the only hospital in Philadelphia
and one of only 12 in the nation invited to participate
in a study to determine the effectiveness of this
revolutionary procedure.
 Penn
is one of the few hospitals in the country to
have a surgeon on staff specially-trained to use
the robotic system for bypass surgery. A wide
range of surgical options, from traditional, open-heart
surgery to less invasive robotic surgery is available
at Penn. Each bypass procedure is customized to
meet the patient's individual needs and condition.
The traditional approach to cardiac surgery requires
surgeons to create an incision in the patient's
chest. The robot is equipped with two small instrument
arms and a tiny camera, which enables surgeons
to operate through tiny incisions. By virtually
transporting the surgeon's eyes and hands into
the patient's body, the robotic system allows
the surgeon to perform complex heart surgery without
ever having to open the patient's chest..
How Surgical Robotics Works
 In
the operating room, one surgeon controls the robotic
system, while a second surgeon works alongside
the patient, making the tiny chest incisions for
the robotic arms and camera. With the high-resolution,
three-dimensional camera system, the operating
surgeon has a full view of the patient's heart
and can perform the bypass operation with the
multi-jointed, robotic arms. This minimally invasive
approach results in less trauma, blood loss, pain,
scarring, and lower risk of infection, while improving
recovery time.
In addition to bypass procedures, the robotic
system is being used for heart valve operations
and will soon be able to assist with aortic procedures
and the treatment of heart failure and rhythm
management.
Penn Cardiac Care is committed to providing the
most comprehensive, technologically-advanced cardiac
care in the region and will continue to pursue
of similar developments that hold great promise
for patients.
This type of surgery is beneficial because of:
- Lower risk of infection
- Fewer medications
- Quicker recovery
- Shorter hospital stay
Recovery
Following surgery, all patients are closely monitored
in the intensive care unit. Generally you will
be awake shortly after surgery and can expect
to sit up in bed the night of surgery, sipping
fluids. Like most patients, you can move out of
bed to a chair or take short walks the next day.
Medication will be prescribed, adjusted or discontinued
depending on your condition. Patients receive
physical rehabilitation while in the hospital
and are usually ready to go home a few days after
surgery. Although the speed of recovery varies,
patients can expect to resume their lifestyle
within weeks of their operation.
Director
Y.
Joseph Woo, MD
|
