Title : How robotic technology will shape the future of minimally invasive cardiac surgery
Abstract:
Robotic techniques have been used in cardiac surgery since the late 1990s. After an initial hype other surgical disciplines have taken up the technology with more enthusiasm and have given significant input for further development of robotic hard- and software as well as into refinement of surgical techniques. In cardiac surgery robotics has mainly been applied for coronary bypass grafting and mitral valve repair. Recently introduced procedures include aortic valve replacement, septal myectomy, and even left ventricular assist device implantation as well as heart and lung transplantation. Combination procedures are current new frontiers. The near future will be significantly influenced by the appearance of new surgical robots. New technological concepts such as modular robotic systems with individual robotic arms on separate columns around the operating table, open consoles with flat screens, new versions of joysticks to operate the robotic instruments, tactile feedback, and options for telesurgery have been introduced. Robots not only serve as surgical tools but also as analytic devices which can monitor the movements of the surgeon. Automated Performance Metrics (APMs) can be recorded and correlated with patient outcome. This will help defining benchmarks and support surgical quality control and learning. Lastly telesurgery has become reality and remote coronary bypass grafting has already been carried out. Robotics will certainly become an integral part of our specialty.
