Robotic Cardiac Surgery: What the Young Surgeon Should Know
Jef Van den Eynde, Ludovic Melly, Gianluca Torregrossa, Wouter Oosterlinck
Abstract
Since the introduction of minimally invasive cardiac surgery in 1995, robotic systems have gained popularity. The first successful cases were reported in 1998 by Carpentier Shortly thereafter, the first generation of devices received FDA approval and, in the years ensuing, new generations were released. Apart from avoiding sternotomy and using small portal incisions instead, robotic tele-manipulators provide threedimensional (3D) and magnified visualization. They are also equipped with articulating instruments that have seven degrees of freedom of motion, hence significantly optimizing dexterity. Various studies have demonstrated advantages of robotic cardiac surgery, such as reduced hospital length of stay, complications, and mortality The important benefits of robotic surgery on fast recovery and quality of life are illustrated by the testimony of a patient operated on at one of the author's institutions: https:// www.linkedin.com/posts/gianluca-torregrossa-70b4965b_covid19cardiacsurgery-robotic-ugcPost-6695354516503633920-K61f/.