When medication and catheter-based treatments do not relieve your symptoms, surgery may be your only option for treatment for a range of heart conditions, including but not limited to mitral valve prolapse (MVP), atrial septal defect (ASD), and coronary artery disease. Facing either traditional heart surgery or open heart surgery to treat disorders occurring in the chest cavity can be a frightening experience. You have several decisions to make including choosing your cardiac surgeon, your hospital, and which procedure you and your physician choose.

Learning as much as possible about your surgical options, including minimally invasive alternatives to traditionally invasive surgery, may ease some of your concerns. While traditional surgery is often the most effective way to treat some disorders of the heart, lungs, and esophagus, there are a number of negative aspects in making a large incision, splitting the breastbone (sternum), and spreading the ribs to reach the thoracic (chest) cavity. Often, a lengthy recovery time of eight to twelve weeks is required because of your eight to ten inch incision down the center of your chest with resulting scarring and a longer period of time elapses before you can return to normal daily activities.

Fortunately, less invasive options have been developed for patients facing cardiac (heart) surgery. Many surgeons recognize the benefits of smaller incisions made between the ribs to perform coronary bypass surgery or to make repairs to the heart by actually visualizing cardiac procedures while they are being performed. A miniaturized video camera is inserted between the ribs to optimize visualization during the surgery. This auxiliary technique is called a thoracoscopy. This minimally invasive procedure has its own limitations and, therefore, is not well suited for very complex procedures.

Enter the da Vinci® Surgical System - a system that provides surgeons and patients with the most effective, least invasive treatment alternative for even the most complex procedures, such as mitral valve repair. Among the many benefits of the da Vinci® cardiothoracic surgery are a reduced risk of infection, less blood loss, and less need for blood transfusions, along with a shorter hospital stay, less pain and scarring, a faster recovery, and a quicker return to your normal daily activities. Additionally, surgery with the da Vinci® Surgical system offers the potential for a better clinical outcome.

This information is not an alternative to direct communication with your health care providers. We hope it will help you to start a dialogue that will lead to the best option for you or your loved one.