Cardiothoracic Surgery — Coronary Artery Disease

When medication, lifestyle changes and other treatments are unable to relieve your symptoms or risk of a heart attack due to coronary artery disease (CAD), bypass surgery is typically recommended. It can provide an effective, definitive and long-term solution for CAD.

If you have been told you need coronary artery bypass surgery, ask your doctor about robotic-assisted surgery for coronary artery disease. This surgery is performed without the need for a heart-lung machine and minimally invasively — through small incisions made between the ribs. This avoids the need for a sternotomy, its associated risks and complications. During a sternotomy, surgeons make an 8 to 10 inch incision, cut through the breastbone and spread the ribs to access the chest cavity and heart.

 
            Open Surgery Incision             da Vinci^® Bypass Incisions

Robotic-assisted surgery for CAD can also offer several potential benefits over open heart surgery, including:

• Shorter hospital stay²
• Less pain and scarring¹
• Less risk of infection¹
• Less blood loss and need for blood transfusions²
• Faster recovery¹
• Quicker return to normal activities¹

da Vinci Surgery is a breakthrough surgical system that enables surgeons to operate with unmatched precision, 3D-high definition vision and superior control. By overcoming the limitations of traditional open surgery, robotic-assisted surgery is revolutionizing cardiothoracic surgery.

As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed, as surgery is patient and procedure specific.

1. “How is Coronary Artery Disease Treated?” National Institutes of Health, URL:http://www.nhibi.nih.gov, URL:http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Cad/CAD_Treatments.html

2. Poston RS, Tran R, Collins M, Reynolds M, Connerney I, Reicher B, Zimrin D, Griffith BP, Bartlett ST. Comparison of economic and patient outcomes with minimally invasive versus traditional off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting techniques. Ann Surg. 2008 Oct;248(4):638-46.

While clinical studies support the effectiveness of the da Vinci System when used in minimally invasive surgery, individual results may vary. Surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System may not be appropriate for every individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.