Minimally Invasive Aortic Replacement

[Adam 12-21-05]

Hey there,

Quick question... I've read some about minimally invasive procedures for mitral valve repairs using robotic processes including the Da Vinci System.

However, has anyone heard of minimally invasive operations for full valve replacements? Can the robots do that yet? Or, is there just not enough space without a full sternum incision?

Thoughts?

Adam

 

[Phyllis]

Adam, Here is a thread on the DaVinci surgery: http://valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16425&highlight=DaVinci
I may be wrong but I don't think the robots do avrs yet, but Dick had minimally invasive surgery (4-5inch sternum cut) for his AVR.

 

[Susan BAV]

Hi Adam - Am I reading your signature correctly? Are you the author?! If so well, Wow -- how cool is that!?! I think I recall one of the other members recommending that book here, fairly recently.

I don't know about the current capabilities of the da Vinci surgery, but I'm sure somebody will know and post sooner or later. Welcome to the site! And please post again.

 

[readsforfun]

My surgeon, Dr. Clifton Lewis, was the first surgeon in southwest Florida to use the da Vinci robot to perform a mitral valve repair. There is an article about him and this surgery in a local magazine called "Vim & Vigor", Spring, 2007 issue, and I believe it's published by Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation. I believe it has enabled him to do more repairs and has decreased the number of replacements needed for mitral valve. In any event, he couldn't use it for aortic valve replacement which is what I need.
You might consider contacting him for more info.

Jan

 

[Janea]

Hi Adam,
I am from the Seattle area and when I was doing research regarding my surgery I learned that a hospital in Spokane WA (eastern WA) did the robotic heart surgeries and I was under the impression that they did both replacement and repair. I could be wrong but I remember considering it that kind of surgery. I think the name of the hospital is Sacred Heart. I am sure there is only one hospital in that area that perform thoracic surgery.

 

[Adam 12-21-05]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts, references and links!!!

I think I'm going to take this up with my surgeon, Dr. Vaughn Starnes, over at USC. My gut is telling me that AVRs via robots is not a reality yet.

But, there may be something that Starnes / Da Vinci is working on that could provide an alternative to a median sternotomy (aka a cracked chest with a 10 inch scar).

Interesting though... It's been over a year since my surgery and my scare is barely noticeable.



Cheers,

Adam

P.S. If you would like to see a great video of the Da Vinci Surgical System, here is a video for a mitral valve repair by Starnes.

 

[marie]

any more info on this

any more info on this

Adam or anyone else that might know. Is the robot being used for Aortic replacement that you know of? There is a robot and LGMC in Lafayette, La. and the surgeon is Dr Bruce Jones.
Thanks

 

[donnamarie]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts, references and links!!!

I think I'm going to take this up with my surgeon, Dr. Vaughn Starnes, over at USC. My gut is telling me that AVRs via robots is not a reality yet.

But, there may be something that Starnes / Da Vinci is working on that could provide an alternative to a median sternotomy (aka a cracked chest with a 10 inch scar).

Interesting though... It's been over a year since my surgery and my scare is barely noticeable.



Cheers,

Adam

Adam - I had "minimally invasive surgery" for my aortic valve replacement - instead of a 10" incision, I have a 4" one. Supposedly, the recovery time is shorter too - I'm still working on that!