Patient Experiences with Robotic Cardiac Surgery: Stories of Successful Treatment
Robotic surgery, also known as RAS (Robot-Assisted Surgery), enables doctors to conduct a wide range of complex surgical procedures with greater precision, control, and flexibility compared to traditional approaches. Robotic surgery is commonly connected with minimally invasive surgery, which is performed through small incisions. It is also utilized in some traditional open surgical procedures for precise accessibility.
The most common medical robotic surgical system consists of an arm with a camera and mechanical arms with surgical instruments attached. The surgeon directs the arms from a computer station near the operating table. The console displays a high-definition, enlarged 3D picture of the surgical site to the surgeon. Other team members that assist throughout the procedure are led by the surgeon.
What do Patients at Apollo Hospitals, Karnataka, have to say about Robotic Cardiac Surgery?
Patients have reported the following advantages of robotic cardiac surgery –
- Minimally Invasive – Because doctors do not need to manually touch the body, incisions are smaller than in traditional surgery. To reduce the possibility of unintended nicks or punctures that can lead to bleeding and infections, robotic arms frequently filter out vibrations in the surgeon’s hands.
- Less Trauma – Surgeries that traditionally need a week-long postoperative hospital stay are converted to outpatient procedures. Like a liver resection, following a standard protocol will keep a patient in the hospital for a week or more. Having a robot perform decreases your stay in the hospital to one or two days, reducing trauma in the patients.
- Less Surgeon Fatigue – Surgery robots allow the surgeon to perform while sitting comfortably. This could help keep surgeons alert and focused for the duration of their surgeries, avoiding mistakes caused by fatigue and lowering the danger of medical malpractice.
- Low Risk of Infection – Since robotic surgery is less intrusive, the chance of contracting an infection is reduced, and hence, any potential hazards associated with infection are removed.
- Reduced Pain – With fewer incisions and improved accuracy, you’ll have less pain during and after surgery. You’ll be less dependent on painkillers during rehabilitation, which lowers the chance of addiction.
In addition to all these benefits, the high success rates, cutting-edge technology-laced OTs, and highly experienced medical professionals have made Apollo Hospitals, Karnataka, the best cardiac hospital in Bangalore.
How does Robotic Cardiac Surgery work?
Your doctor is seated at a huge console that controls the robotic arms. They can view what the camera inside of you can see when they peer inside the device. The surgeon is not directly next to or above you, but the robotic arms are. They operate the machine’s robotic arms from a console a few feet away from you in another area of the operating room. There are more members of your surgical team nearby.
What happens before Robotic Cardiac Surgery?
Following are some techniques to get ready for robotic heart surgery:
- After your provider releases you, make arrangements for someone to drive you home.
- Find out from your doctor whether there are any medications you should avoid taking before surgery. If your doctor instructs you to stop taking them, only do so.
- To improve your ability to breathe and recover more quickly from surgery, stop using tobacco products several weeks before the procedure. By abstaining from cigarette products, your wounds will receive the oxygen they require to heal.
- Before your surgery, either at midnight or at the time your doctor specifies, avoid eating and drinking.
How Robotic Cardiac Surgery takes place at Apollo Hospitals, Karnataka?
Throughout the procedure, the surgeon always has the upper hand. The robotic arms are unable to move independently. The doctor will –
- Make four tiny port-related incisions in the areas between your ribs. The largest wound is frequently referred to as “the working port.”
- Through these ports, insert the surgical instruments (connected to the robotic arms) and one camera.
- Sit at a computer console and operate the instruments with their hands. The movements of the robotic “arm and wrist” resemble those of the surgeon, but they are more exact.
- The surgeon can zoom in and out of the camera by placing their feet on foot pedals.
- Close up any openings made by tools.
What happens after Robotic Cardiac Surgery?
Patients have stated that after their robotic heart surgery, a medical professional will take them to an intensive care unit (ICU). Depending on your surgery, you might spend a few days in the hospital. Before leaving home, you might undergo transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). For a complete recovery, it can take two weeks or longer. After surgery, our team of professionals advises adopting new lifestyle habits and using prescribed medications to maintain your heart health.
What are the Risks Involved With Robotic Cardiac Surgery?
Patients have also reported some complications after the surgery. As with any type of surgery, dangers are always present with robotically assisted heart surgery, including the following –
- Chest pain
- Stroke Bleeding
- Anesthesia-related issues
- Arrhythmias
- Need for Permanent Pacemaker
- Infection
- Death
Doctors might not always be able to finish the procedure using the robot. You would sometimes require manual intervention from the surgeon. Depending on your particular medical condition, you can face additional hazards. Before your procedure, be sure to discuss any worries you have with your healthcare professional.
When compared to traditional sternotomy, the use of robotics in cardiac surgery is associated with lower mortality and morbidity. As a result, the use of robotic technology in cardiac surgery (CABG, MV replacement, tumor excision, and ASD repair) has increased over time.
We believe that the numerous well-documented benefits of a minimally invasive method will continue to promote robotic surgery adoption in the future. You can always visit Apollo Hospitals – the best cardiac surgery hospital in Bangalore – and receive the most precise and effective treatment with care & compassion.