title: Robotically assisted minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.
abstract: Increased recognition of advantages, over the last decade, of minimizing surgical trauma by operating through smaller incisions and its direct impact on reduced postoperative pain, quicker recovery, improved cosmesis and earlier return to work has spurred the minimally invasive cardiac surgical revolution. This transition began in the early 1990s with advancements in endoscopic instruments, video & fiberoptic technology and improvements in perfusion systems for establishing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) via peripheral cannulation. Society of Thoracic Surgeons data documents that 20% of all mitral valve surgeries are performed using minimally invasive techniques, with half being robotically assisted. This article reviews the current status of robotically assisted mitral valve surgery, its advantages and technical modifications for optimizing clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiac Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD 21287, USA; ; Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, East Carolina Heart Institute at East Carolina University, Greenville NC 27834, USA.
authors.forename: Kaushik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mandal
authors.forename: Hazaim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alwair
authors.forename: Wiley L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Nifong
authors.forename: W Randolph
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Chitwood
keywords: Robotic; minimal access; minimally invasive; mitral valve repair; mitral valve surgery