Robotic Cardiac Surgery

Guest: Phillip Rowse, M.D.

Guest: Marty Unruh, APRN, C.N.P., D.N.P.

Host: Kyle Klarich, M.D.

In this episode of “Interviews With the Experts,” listeners will hear a discussion on the most important questions patients should ask as they consider whether or not to pursue a robotic-assisted approach for surgical treatment of their valvular heart disease. It is clarified how robotic heart surgery works, including associated risks, benefits, and misconceptions. And finally, there is a discussion on the expected short- and long-term results of robotic heart valve surgery.

Topics Discussed:

What types of procedures can be performed robotically, and how does robotic surgery compare to traditional and other minimally invasive techniques?
Who qualifies for robotic surgery, and is it safe and effective?
What testing is needed beforehand, what is the typical recovery time, and how long is the hospital stay and return-to-work timeline?
Do surgeons perform the procedure or does the robot operate independently?
How many robotic surgeries has Mayo Clinic performed, and what are the benefits compared to open-heart surgery (sternotomy)?

Connect with Mayo Clinic's Cardiovascular Continuing Medical Education online at https://cveducation.mayo.edu or on Twitter @MayoClinicCV and @MayoCVservices.

LinkedIn: Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Services

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Podcast episode transcript found here.