Minimally Invasive and Robotic

[Cooker]

Hello -- Just wanted to get some info on what minimally invasive means and robotics. Does this apply to AVR or will I be cut stem to stern?:eek: :D

PS--three days with no caffiene and feeling better. Don't know if it will help with the a-fib but I hope so.

Happy New Year (be safe);)

[tobagotwo]

The question of "how" is one to bring up to your surgeon. It may cause you to move to a different surgeon who has more experience in the different method. The safety of the outcomes should be similar to traditional surgery.

It can be done as a minimally invasive procedure, but you want a surgeon who has had practice, and you have to ask for it. They still put a window in your ribs, but they don't split the whole sternum. The recovery still takes about the same time, but there's less overall trauma.

The robotic method is even less invasive, but only a few places in the country do it. There were a couple recently on this forum. Try doing an advanced search on "robotic," to see if you can pull them up. If you're close to one of those University hospitals, you may be in luck.

The old, open-'em-up-like-a-cracked-crab method does allow for a lot of surgical access and a good view. That's how mine was done, and it wasn't that bad. I don't fear the bone, skin, and muscle part of my next recovery.

Best wishes,

[Cooker]

The old, open-'em-up-like-a-cracked-crab method does allow for a lot of surgical access and a good view. That's how mine was done, and it wasn't that bad. I don't fear the bone, skin, and muscle part of my next recovery.

Best wishes,

Bob,

Thanks for the information. My gut feeling has been that the "old" way would give more room to work and a greater field of vision. I am not near as concerned about being cracked open as I am having a good job done by the cutter. I am sure he/she will have his/her way of doing things.

Thanks,

[bvdr]

Hello -- Just wanted to get some info on what minimally invasive means and robotics. Does this apply to AVR or will I be cut stem to stern?:eek: :D

PS--three days with no caffiene and feeling better. Don't know if it will help with the a-fib but I hope so.

Happy New Year (be safe);)


Dr. Chitwood at Eastern North Carolina University does the robotic. The doctors at Duke do the minimally invasive including the Heartport approach but I'm not sure if the Heartport can be used for the Aortic valve or not. I have not heard of robotic surgery at Duke either. Dr.Glower at Duke is an expert on minimally invasive methods.

[kingpeta]

I know there's a new guy here named Paul who just had robotic surgery done for mitral valve repair. It is being offerred at Aurora St. Luke's in Milwaukee, Wi. If you can find the thread I believe he posted a link to a website that explained it all. He seemed quite happy with the procedure. BTW - no, with robotic/minimally invasive surgery they do not open your chest via the sternum.

[kingpeta]

I found that thread here: http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14160

[Paul117]

I'm the new guy paul and I'm recovering from a robotic Mitral Valve repair.
lets just say i wouldn't have done it any other way.
I had Mitral valve repair 12/22/25 and was discharged on Christmas day.
my incision is 2" long and I have four puntures for the cameras and the tools
I was pain free after 3 days and can do most anything here at home but lift and carry, and I think this restriction is a throw back from the "crack you open" treatment. The machine is called the " da Vinci" made by intuituve surgical in CA. That's right about St Lukes in Milwuakee I'm not sure how many others have one but I read that there are 130 in the country.

Please check this out I am very happy
also this web sight explains the machine

http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/

good luck
let me know how you make out

Paul

[kingpeta]

I'm the new guy paul and I'm recovering from a robotic Mitral Valve repair.
lets just say i wouldn't have done it any other way.
I had Mitral valve repair 12/22/25 and was discharged on Christmas day.
my incision is 2" long and I have four puntures for the cameras and the tools
I was pain free after 3 days and can do most anything here at home but lift and carry, and I think this restriction is a throw back from the "crack you open" treatment. The machine is called the " da Vinci" made by intuituve surgical in CA. That's right about St Lukes in Milwuakee I'm not sure how many others have one but I read that there are 130 in the country.

Please check this out I am very happy
also this web sight explains the machine

http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/

good luck
let me know how you make out

Paul

Hi Paul. Sounds like you're doing well. How long did the doctor say you'll be off work for recovery? For us "old fashioned" folks I think 6-8 weeks is normally prescribed. I was ready by 6 weeks but stayed home longer (actually until this week) because of remaining vacation time and company holidays.