Videoscope-assisted cardiac surgery.
Videoscope-assisted cardiac surgery (VACS) offers a minimally invasive platform for most cardiac operations such as coronary and valve procedures. It includes robotic and thoracoscopic approaches and each has strengths and weaknesses. The success depends on appropriate hardware setup, staff training, and troubleshooting efficiency. In our institution, we often use VACS for robotic left-internal-mammary-artery takedown, mitral valve repair, and various intra-cardiac operations such as tricuspid valve repair, combined Maze procedure, atrial septal defect repair, ventricular septal defect repair, etc. Hands-on reminders and updated references are provided for reader's further understanding of the topic.
Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan ; ; Department of Nursing, Oriental Institute of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan ;
Kuan-Ming
KM
Chiu
Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan ; ; Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Mennonite Christian Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan.
Robert Jeen-Chen
RJ
Chen
Minimally invasive surgery; cardiac surgical procedures; cardiac valves; coronary artery bypass; video-assisted thoracic surgery