da Vinci S Coronary Bypass Surgery
The hands of surgery are changing at The Wisconsin Heart Hospital with the introduction of the da Vinci ® S surgical system, the most advanced robotic technology available anywhere in the world today for cardiac, prostate and many other surgical procedures.
By advancing existing surgical techniques and enhancing surgeons’ abilities, robotic-assisted surgery makes improvements to existing procedures and makes available those that otherwise could not be performed. Patients benefit by experiencing less pain, faster recovery times, shorter hospital stays and a quicker return to normal activities.
The da Vinci robot cannot make decisions or movements on its own; rather, it combines the skill of the surgeon with the precision of the robot to deliver more exact moves than possible through the human hand alone. With this new technology, even major surgeries can be performed through the smallest of incisions
Faster Recovery, Better Outcomes.
With robot-assisted coronary bypass surgery, patients no longer have to endure “cracking of the chest.” Instead, the surgeon uses a three- to five-inch incision under the left breast along with three small access holes that accommodate the robot instrument arms. Additionally, the bypass graft is harvested using minimally invasive techniques. Because there is less trauma to the body, and thus less to heal, patients generally go home in three to four days after surgery and are back to their regular routine about two weeks after surgery, compared to eight weeks under a traditional open-heart surgery that involves accessing the heart through an open chest.
da Vinci S Coronary Bypass Surgery provides most patients with numerous benefits over open heart surgery:
- Less risk of infection
- Less blood loss and need for blood transfusions
- Shorter hospital stay and faster recovery
- Significantly less pain and scarring
- Quicker return to normal activities
- Potentially better outcomes based on clinical studies
As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed and while da Vinci S Coronary Bypass Surgery is considered safe and effective it may not be appropriate for every individual. Ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as risks and benefits.
Q and A About Coronary Bypass Surgery
What is coronary artery disease?
Coronary artery – or heart – disease is the clogging of arteries within the heart.
What causes coronary artery disease?
Over time, fats, cholesterol and other substances build up in the walls of your arteries to form a type of plaque. When some of the plaque loosens and breaks off, a blood clot forms, and blood flow to your heart is blocked.
What are the symptoms of coronary artery disease?
Coronary artery disease often is signified by chest discomfort.
What are the risk factors of coronary artery disease?
If left untreated, the most common result of coronary artery disease is heart attack.
The treatment
What is the traditional approach to treating coronary artery disease?
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) – or coronary revascularization surgery – is a heart operation that uses blood vessels to bypass clogged heart arteries. The goal of the procedure is to allow blood to flow to the heart the way it should.
In this procedure, surgeons take a blood vessel from the patient’s chest, leg or arm. One end of the vessel is attached to a healthy artery, and the other end is attached to the diseased coronary artery below the point where it is clogged. This creates a new channel, allowing blood to flow freely again.
The traditional “open” approach to CABG requires that the surgeon cut through the breastbone – the body’s natural protective structure for the heart – and pull back the ribs to access the heart. This approach can prolong healing time, increase risk of infection, serious complications and even mortality.
If I choose to have surgery, are there any other less invasive treatment options?
Robotic-assisted CABG is a less invasive option as it does not require opening up the chest. Using the da Vinci Surgical System, the surgeon makes several keyhole incisions along the left side of the chest.
To learn more about robotic surgery or a procedure that has been recommended to you, we invite you to contact The Wisconsin Heart Hospital at Deborah.Kozina@wfhc.org You can also find out more at www.davincisurgery.com
