Charlottesville, Va. – U.Va. Health announced the opening of the Commonwealth’s first dedicated robotic heart surgery program, bringing minimally invasive cardiac care to patients across Virginia. The new service uses the da Vinci 5 robotic system, allowing surgeons to perform complex procedures through tiny incisions while the patient remains on a heart‑lung machine.
How the technology works
Dr. Michael Ibrahim, director of the robotic cardiac surgery program, explained that a series of robotic instruments are inserted into the patient and controlled from a console. “We sit at a console and move forceps, a needle driver, scissors and other tools,” he said. “The robot’s wrists have a range of motion greater than a human wrist, giving us significantly better precision.”
The system also provides a high‑definition, 3‑D camera that can be positioned inside the heart, delivering surgeons a view of unprecedented detail. This superior visualization, combined with the robot’s steadiness, enables operations that traditionally required opening the chest.
Procedures now possible
According to Dr. Ibrahim, the program already performs coronary artery bypass grafting, mitral valve repair and replacement, aortic valve repair and replacement, and tricuspid valve repair and replacement. The first patient treated under the program underwent a mitral valve repair.
Benefits for patients
Traditional open‑heart surgery often leaves patients unable to lift more than 10 pounds and unable to use their arms for weeks or months. In contrast, Dr. Ibrahim noted that “there are really no restrictions after robotic cardiac surgery apart from what you feel able to do.” Patients in the robotic program have been discharged around day three, compared with seven to ten days for conventional surgery.
Eligibility is broad; most patients are candidates unless they have prior cardiac operations, chest‑wall deformities, or are considered high‑risk. A pre‑operative CT scan helps the surgical team confirm a safe path for the heart‑lung machine and the robotic instruments.
Impact on Virginia health care
The launch positions Virginia among a growing number of states offering robotic cardiac surgery, a field that promises reduced hospital stays, lower infection risk and quicker return to normal activities. Dr. Ibrahim, who has extensive experience with robotic procedures, said the program will continue to expand as more patients become eligible.
U.Va. Health plans to track outcomes and share results with other hospitals in the region, hoping to set a benchmark for minimally invasive heart care throughout the Commonwealth.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
