Surgeons on the medical staff at The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano performed the hospital’s 1,000th robotic surgery six years after initiating the program in 2011. The robotic-assisted cardiac and thoracic surgery uses minimally invasive techniques to reduce the size of incisions and increase efficiency.
The hospital’s cardiothoracic robotic program leads Texas in its number of cardiothoracic robotic operations, according to the maker of the robotic-assisted technology. Cardiovascular and thoracic procedures performed with the robotic surgical system at Baylor Plano include coronary artery bypass grafting, heart valve repair, and all thoracic surgical procedures.
According to Baylor Plano, benefits to using the robotic-assisted surgery system may include greater surgical precision, increased range of motion, improved agility, enhanced visualization, and improved access to the surgical site. The system integrates 3-D, high-definition endoscopy, and four robotic arms that wield cameras and equipment into the field, all controlled from a console by a trained surgeon on the medical staff.
Dr. Kimble Jett, medical director of thoracic surgery, believes robotic-assisted surgery has several benefits.
“If we take out a lobe of the lung robotically, most patients go home the next day,” Jett said. “Using the robotic-assisted surgical system, we can significantly reduce the trauma to the body that is associated with open chest cardiothoracic procedures. Having this technology allows surgeons to be less invasive, usually resulting in quicker patient recovery. It’s truly a win-win.”
