Robotic Bypass Through a 4 cm Incision Without Opening the Thorax

Cardiovascular diseases are among the most common chronic diseases in our country. Bypass operations with robotic surgery for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases offer many advantages in terms of patient comfort and rapid recovery. Robotic bypass is possible by using 3 cuts in the armpit and a 4 cm incision on the rib cage without touching a scalpel to the heart or stopping it. Liv Hospital Cardiovascular Surgery Specialist Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ozkara: “We perform robotic bypass by using the most important vessel on the heart; thoracic aorta. Unlike conventional bypass surgeries, we complete the operation without opening the thorax and stopping the heart”. Highlighting that patients can return their normal life sooner with robotic bypass, Liv Hospital Cardiovascular Surgery Specialist Prof.
Dr. Ahmet Ozkara told that infection rates and bleeding is significantly decreased with this method, and said: “It is superior to conventional bypass surgery in terms of cosmetics as well. The patient can return to work within a few weeks. They reach normal physical conditioning.

 

No scalpel is used.

With the technological developments of the last 15 years, the number of minimally invasive methods is increasing as an alternative to classical surgery methods in cardiac surgery. In the US and European countries, the number of robotic heart surgeries increased by 20 percent in recent years. And there is a similar trend in our country as well. In robotic cardiac surgery, the operation is performed without cutting the breastbone, the sternum. The robotic arm inserted through small cuts on right or left side of the rib cage. The 3-dimensional image obtained by the camera inserted through an incision provides a 8-10 times larger and clearer image. One surgeon attached the surgical instruments to the robotic arm, while another surgeon operates these instruments from a console with the camera display.

Comfortable for both patient and the surgeon

The instruments used in robotic surgery provide greater safety than the conventional or thoracoscopic surgery. The surgical instruments are operated by the finger movements of the surgeon at the console and these robotic arms are capable of movements that are difficult for wrist. There is no hand shake or fatigue, and intervention to anatomical regions with difficult access become easier. This provides comfort for both the surgeon and the patient.
 

Less pain, less infection

Coronary artery bypass surgery, mitral valve surgery, congenital heart surgery and arrhythmia surgery are performed by robotic surgery in eligible patients. Coronary artery bypass surgery is performed without stopping the heart or by stopping the heart (using a cardiopulmonary pump). Mitral valve operations are performed by stopping the heart with a special fluid. With robotic heart surgery, the recovery period is significantly shortened, and patients can usually return to work after 7-10 days. Bleeding, infection, pain and blood transfusion are less frequent. And it provides cosmetically superior results.

Advantages of robotic surgery:

Better results:

• Pain and some post-operative physical function disorders are less common, and better results are obtained in terms of patient satisfaction.
• Less damage: The operation is performed through small incisions and with camera assistance; on the contrary to general belief, robotic surgery provides clearer and more detailed view than the open surgery, and this allows the operation to be completed with significantly less tissue trauma.
• Faster recovery: The post-operative recovery is much more faster than open surgery. And this also translates into shorter hospital stay and faster return to normal life.
• Less pain: As the surgery is performed through small cuts, patients feel less pain after the operation.
• Less infection risk: Post-operative surgical site infection is less likely as the incisions are very small.
• Better cosmetic outcome: Since the operation is performed with 1-1,5 cm cuts, better cosmetic outcomes are obtained in comparison to open surgery.
• Better field of view: As the surgery is performed with the assistance of optical systems, more detailed and clear field of view is provided compared to open surgery.
• Less blood loss: Blood loss is minimum thanks to less tissue damage.