If you are suffering from a heart condition that requires surgery, you may be wondering if robotic mitral valve surgery is right for you. This post will take a look at what robotic mitral valve surgery is and how it differs from traditional open heart surgery. We’ll also discuss the benefits and risks of this procedure so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not it’s right for your situation.
The mitral valve is a valve that separates the left atrium, which receives blood from your heart's upper chambers (the atria), from the left ventricle. It's located between the upper heart chambers and separates them by opening and closing to allow blood to flow in only one direction.
The mitral valve has two flaps, called leaflets, that open when you're breathing in and out of your lungs so blood can move into your heart's lower chamber (ventricle). As you breathe out and expand your chest cavity outwardly, this pushes on some muscles that open up the leaflets of your mitral valve for proper circulation through this process called respiration or pulmonary ventilation.
Mitral valve problems can lead to heart failure. When the mitral valve is floppy and doesn't close properly, it allows blood to leak back into your left atrium. This causes fluid to build up in your lungs, which can make breathing difficult and lead to heart failure.
Mitral valve problems also cause a heart murmur — a sound that's made when blood flows through the mitral valve when you're listening with a stethoscope or other medical device. A murmur usually happens because of damage from an infection or inflammation of the lining tissue around your heart's main chambers (ventricles).
If you have any of the following symptoms, it's time to talk to your doctor about whether you should get tested for a mitral valve problem.
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
Chest discomfort
If your doctor suspects that you may be suffering from a mitral valve disorder, he or she will refer you to an echocardiography specialist (a cardiologist who specializes in using ultrasound) for further testing. This test involves using ultrasound waves to create pictures of what's going on inside your heart and lungs. After looking at these images, the specialist will give his or her opinion about whether robotic mitral valve surgery is right for you. If so, he or she will recommend a surgeon who performs this type of operation regularly and can help manage any complications that come up during recovery.
Your doctor will probably recommend one of three types of surgery:
Open heart surgery, or a "sternotomy," is the most invasive type of heart surgery. This procedure involves making a large incision in your chest and spreading apart your ribs as you open up your chest cavity to access your heart.
Thoracoscopic surgery is minimally invasive surgical technique that only requires small incisions to access the area being operated on. This means less pain during recovery and faster recovery times compared with more invasive open heart surgeries. Because this type of surgery does not require cutting through muscle tissue like an open heart operation does, it can often be used for patients who are older or have other medical conditions that limit their ability to tolerate traditional procedures.
Robotic mitral valve repair has been shown in studies to give patients similar outcomes as those following either conventional surgery or minimally invasive techniques such as thoracoscopic mitral repair (TMR). Robotic mitral valve repair tends to be more expensive than TMR, but many insurance companies now cover this type of treatment option since they recognize its benefits over other methods available today
Robotic mitral valve surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that involves a surgeon and a robotic arm. The surgeon will be in a separate room from the patient, but he or she can use the robotic arm to perform the surgery without having to actually operate on you directly. The surgeon first makes an incision in your chest and then uses that opening as access point for inserting tools into your body. The robotic arm navigates through this opening as well, guiding instruments through it on its way towards your heart.
Robotic mitral valve surgeries are performed using three main instruments: an endoscopic camera; an atherectomy device (a tool used for removing plaque); and a stapling device for closing off blood vessels during surgery.
Robotic mitral valve surgery offers a number of benefits over the traditional approach. These include:
Less pain after surgery and in recovery
Less blood loss during the procedure, which means less time in the hospital and less time off work afterward
A lower risk of infection or other complications, such as stroke or heart failure (about 3% for robotic mitral valve surgery compared to 9% for open-heart surgery)
A lower risk of death at one year post-surgery (1% for robotic mitral valve replacement versus 1.5% for open-heart surgery), though it's important to note that these numbers are based on small studies with limited follow-up periods
When you're recovering from robotic mitral valve surgery, you'll want to know how long it will be before you feel like your old self again. The recovery process is different for every patient, but here's a rough idea of what to expect:
Some patients are able to go home the same day as their surgery. These individuals may need assistance with certain activities, such as climbing stairs or lifting heavy objects.
Other patients may stay in the hospital for a few days after the procedure, depending on how well they recover from anesthesia and any complications that arise during or after surgery.
Still other people require more intensive care and spend several weeks recovering in the hospital before being discharged home with a clear bill of health.
The decision to undergo robotic mitral valve surgery is a big one, and you should only choose the minimally invasive alternative if you are healthy enough to undergo the procedure. Robotic mitral valve surgery is a good option for people who:
Are young and in good health
Have moderate-to-severe heart disease that requires replacing their mitral valve but does not require open heart surgery
Do not have any other serious medical conditions or complications (such as obesity) that would make an invasive procedure risky
The benefits of robotic mitral valve surgery are numerous. The procedure is minimally invasive, which means you may be able to recover faster than you would otherwise. Due to the smaller incision, your recovery time will also be shorter than if you had traditional mitral valve surgery. In addition, having a robotic arm that can move with precision allows your surgeon greater control over their instruments and helps them perform the task with greater precision.
Robotic mitral valve replacement can truly be life changing for those who have been suffering from heart disease or other conditions that require this type of surgery.
If you have mitral valve disease, robotic mitral valve surgery may be an option for you. This is a minimally invasive procedure that uses special tools and technology to make your operation less risky and more effective. If you’re interested in this type of treatment for your condition, talk with your doctor about it today!