Robotic Cardiac Surgery A Gamechanger in Cardiac Care

Newer medical technologies are constantly revolutionizing the field of surgery. Dr. Mohammed Rehan Sayeed, Senior Consultant Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals , Greams Road, Chennai calls robotic cardiac surgery a gamechanger that uses a surgeon-controlled console and robotic arms to perform minimally invasive procedures with enhanced precision, dexterity, and visualization. " Robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) allows for smaller incisions, and hence lesser blood loss, reduced pain, smaller scars, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery," he says, "The average life expectancy of Indians has increased to 72years and we are seeing a lot of older people coming in for bypass surgery. For them, this is a blessing because healing is faster and they are able to return to a good quality of life much faster!"

- By Swati Amar

Eligibility

Patients belonging to all age groups, including those with obesity or other co-morbidities are all eligible for RAS. The only contraindication is if the patient has had a previous lung disease like tuberculosis that does not allow the surgeon to get into the chest with complete freedom. Moreover, surgeons can even perform a 4/5-vessel bypass comfortably through the same small incision.

Advantages of Robotic Cardiac Surgery

• Less bleeding

• Less pain

• Less chances of infection

• Less post-operative morbidity

• Lesser hospital-stay (less than 5 days compared to 9 days for traditional surgery)

• Faster recovery

The Surgery