Robotic Cardiac Surgery vs. Traditional Open-Heart Surgery: Which is Right for You?

Robotic Cardiac Surgery vs. Traditional Open-Heart Surgery: Which is Right for You?

With advancements in technology, top doctors today suggest robotic heart surgery to eligible heart patients in need of surgery. It is because it is a minimally invasive surgery and does not require a bigger incision, which means quick and efficient recovery. However, there are certain cases where the doctor needs to opt for open heart surgery which usually leads to a higher risk of post-surgery complications. Usually, the doctor suggests which surgery is the optimal choice based on health, current situation, medical history, and other certain factors.

If you are confused about which one is right for you, read below to learn more about these procedures. Here, we have discussed the difference between robotic cardiac surgery and open heart surgery based on benefits, risks, and how they are performed.

What is Robotic Cardiac Surgery?

Robotic heart surgery is a sort of minimally invasive cardiac surgery in which a surgeon uses surgical equipment attached to thin robotic arms to perform the concerned procedure. The surgeon only makes tiny incisions (usually 2-4) to access your heart and perform the surgery with the help of robotic arms.

The following are the most common cardiac surgeries performed by doctors using a robot-

• Mitral valve replacement.
• Closure of various types of heart holes.
• Benign heart growths or tumours are removed.

What are the Benefits of Robotic Cardiac Surgery?

When compared to traditional surgery, the advantages of robotic cardiac surgery include –

• Lesser pain
• Lesser bleeding
• Reduced infection risk
• Fewer post-surgery complications
• Pain relievers are being used less frequently
• A shorter hospital stay (typically three to four days)
• Faster recovery and return to daily and professional activity

How is Robotic Cardiac Surgery performed at Apollo Hospitals, Karnataka?

During surgery, the expert surgeons at Apollo Hospitals, Karnataka – the best cardiac surgery hospital in Bangalore, control the robotic arms as they are unable to move on their own. During the cardiac surgery, the surgeon will perform the following steps.

• Make four tiny cuts or incisions between your ribs that are known as “the working port.”
• Through these ports, they insert the surgical tools (connected to the robotic arms) and one camera.
• The surgeon will then sit at a computer console and control the instruments with their hands. The robotic “arm and wrist” movements are more exact than those of the surgeon.
• They control the camera with their feet on foot pedals, such as zooming in and out.
• The affected vein or valve is then removed or treated.
• Lastly, these incisions are closed with small sutures and remove all tools.

What are the Complications & Risks of Robotic Cardiac Surgery?

The risks and complications of robotic cardiac surgery include –

• Longer surgical time
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Arrhythmias
• Risks of anaesthesia
• The surgeons might also need to switch to open-heart surgery if the condition demands.

Usually, there are no to minimal risks when you opt for the Apollo Hospitals, Karnataka – the best cardiac hospital in Bangalore – for robotic cardiac surgery as we have the most experienced heart surgeons backed by a well-trained medical staff, advanced tools & equipment, and cutting-edge technology.

What is Open Heart Surgery?

Open heart surgery is done to perform CABG, also called Coronary Artery Bypass Graft. It is done to conditions related to coronary arteries. Coronary heart disease develops when the blood arteries that supply the heart muscle with oxygen (from blood) become narrow and rigid. This is sometimes referred to as “artery hardening.”

What are the benefits of Open Heart Surgery?

Heart surgery performed at Apollo Hospitals – the best heart hospital in Bangalore – can help to sustain and lengthen life by opening or replacing blocked coronary arteries extending, mending, or replacing a broken heart valve correcting or controlling an irregular heart rhythm.

How is Open Heart Surgery Performed at Apollo Hospitals, Karnataka?

At Apollo Hospitals, Karnataka, our doctor performs the surgery with utmost care and precision. A CABG procedure takes between three and six hours. It’s usually done in the following order –

• When you are admitted to the hospital, general anaesthesia is administered. This assures that you will remain sleeping and pain-free throughout the procedure.
• The surgeon creates an 8- to 10-inch incision in your chest.
• To expose the heart, the surgeon slices through all or part of your breastbone.
• You may be attached to a heart-lung bypass machine after the heart is accessed. The equipment diverts blood away from the heart, allowing the surgeon to operate.
• The surgeon creates a new path around the obstructed artery by using a healthy vein or artery.
• The surgeon uses wire to seal the breastbone, leaving the wire inside the body.
• Then the doctor will suture it and dress it.

Sternal plating is sometimes used for high-risk patients, such as those who have undergone many procedures or are elderly. Sternal plating is the process of rejoining the breastbone with tiny titanium plates after surgery.

What are the risks of Open Surgery?

The following are the risks of open surgery –

• Infection at the incision site
• Stroke
• Arrhythmia
• Excessive blood loss
• Blood clot
• Memory loss
• Difficult breathing
• Thrombosis

Which surgical procedure is Right for You – Robotic or Open Cardiac Surgery?

Depending on your current health condition, and the severity of the heart complication, our expert doctors suggest which surgery would suit you. Apollo Hospitals, Karnataka, are considered the best heart specialist hospital in Bangalore, India, using advanced medical technologies to reduce the risk and complications during and after heart surgery.