Robotic mitral surgery at East Carolina University: a 6 year experience.
BACKGROUND
Robotic mitral valve repair using the da Vinci telemanupilation system has become the standard of care at many centres worldwide. We perform the first robotic MV repair in the United States in the year 2000. This article reviews our 6 year experience and current technique of robotic MV repair as well as future trends in the field.


METHODS
Retrospective review of our initial 200 robotic MV repairs. Patient demographics, operative times, type of repairs, morbidities, mortality, success of the repair including need for reoperations were reviewed.


RESULTS
The average age was 57 +/- 0.9 years. Average time for CPB was 156 minutes and for cross clamp 119 minutes. There was one operative death (0.5%) with no device related complications. Postoperative TEE demonstrated no MR in 187 (93.5%) patients, trace MR in 6 (3%) patients, moderate MR in 5 (2.5%) patients, and SAM in 2 (1%) patients. Five (2.5%) patients required reoperation for failed repairs.


CONCLUSIONS
Robotic MV repair operations are safe with excellent early results. Follow-up studies are needed to determine repair longevity. We must continue to improve the current technology in order to develop the next generation of tools that will facilitate robotic MV repairs.
Rodríguez
Evelio
E
Department of Surgery, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA. rodrigueze@ecu.edu
Kypson
Alan P
AP
Moten
Simon C
SC
Nifong
L Wiley
LW
Chitwood
W Randolph
WR
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*; D009657:North Carolina; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D016896:Treatment Outcome