Atrial septal defect robotic repair


 * Associate Editors-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, MBBS [mailto:psingh@perfuse.org]; Assistant Editor-In-Chief: Kristin Feeney, B.S. [mailto:kfeeney@perfuse.org]

Overview
Robotic repair is done through the  'da Vinci Surgical System'  (Intuitive Surgical) is the most recent and advanced approach for the repair of atrial septal defect. Due to this technique a surgeon can perform operations from a remote distance. The surgeon gets an excellent three dimensional view of the heart through the fiberoptic stereoscopic camera. The surgeon's hand motions are relayed to a computer processor, which digitizes and relays them to the fine instrument placed into the chest through small port incisions.

Component of robotic repair

 * Surgeon console
 * Computerized control system
 * Two instrument arms
 * Fiberoptic camera

Advantage
Surgery specific Patient specific
 * High degree of freedom of hand movement.
 * Better precision compared to hand done surgery.
 * Performance of complex operations with great success.
 * Operation could be performed by the surgeon from remote distance.
 * Excellent visualization and magnification of internal anatomy due to two camera system.
 * Doctor does the surgery remotely, so there is decrease in spread of infection to patient from the doctor.
 * Small incisions
 * Minimal scarring
 * Decreased bleeding
 * Decreased infection
 * Shorter recovery period
 * Less traumatic for patient
 * No restrictions in activities
 * Less pain so less use of pain medications
 * Shorter hospital stay (usually 3 to 4 days)

Video: Robotic repair
'''Heart surgeons are now using robots to help them perform surgeries such as septal defect repairs, coronary artery bypass operations. Advantages of this procedure are smaller incision, faster recovery and fewer complications for the patients.'''

