Traditional cardiothoracic surgery is typically performed through a median sternotomy, which involves making a vertical incision down the center of the chest and spreading the breast plate to access the heart and certain thoracic organs, such as the thymus. To access the lungs or esophagus, a thoracotomy is typically performed, which is an incision made on the side of the chest between the ribs. While these approaches provide great exposure for the surgical team, patients can endure long, painful recoveries and substantial scaring on their chest. Recent advances in technology now allow surgeons to perform cardiothoracic procedures, when appropriate, with the da Vinci Surgical System while avoiding having to perform a sternotomy or thoracotomy.
During the robotic procedure, the arms of the da Vinci are inserted through a series of tiny ‘ports’, or incisions, in the patients chest. From across the room, the surgeon operates the system’s console, where he has a 3-D, 10X magnification view and manipulates various surgical instruments with enhanced dexterity, precision and control. The potential benefits of this approach include shorter hospital stays, less risk of infection, improved recovery times, reduced scaring and pain, a quicker return to normal activities and less expense to the patient and hospital.
Surgeons at CTVS perform a variety of surgical procedures utilizing the da Vinci Surgical System, including robotic-assisted coronary artery bypass grafting, thymectomy, esophagectomy and lobectomy.
CTVS Surgeons who perform robotic surgery:
Read our robotic patients’ stories