Da Vinci Surgery | Cardiac Robotic Assisted Surgery

Cardiac (heart) conditions

Heart disease is a serious health problem in the U.S. and the leading cause of death in both men and women.¹ However, the term “heart disease” covers a variety of conditions that affect the heart. One of the most common is coronary artery disease, which is a cardiovascular (heart plus blood vessels) condition caused by plaque buildup inside your arteries that narrows or closes off blood flow to your heart muscle. Coronary artery disease can result in a heart attack if a blocked artery cuts off blood flow to an area of your heart muscle, depriving it of oxygen.

There are other types of heart disease, as well, including valve disorders. These happen when any of the four valves that keep blood flowing through the heart in the right direction fail to function as they should. Valve problems that develop in adults most often involve the aortic and mitral valves.²

Depending on the type, your symptoms, and if you receive a diagnosis early or after a heart condition has progressed, doctors have many ways to treat heart diseases. Treatments can range from lifestyle changes and medicines to surgery.³

Types of surgery

In the past, the only way doctors could operate on the heart was through open surgery. Open heart surgery requires a long incision down the center of the chest. Surgeons must also cut through the breastbone and open the ribcage to allow doctors to see and work on the heart. Though open heart surgery is still performed, surgeons can now perform procedures using minimally invasive approaches.

For coronary artery bypass surgery, two minimally invasive surgical approaches are thoracoscopic surgery or robotic-assisted surgery, possibly with da Vinci. These require only a few small incisions that doctors use to insert surgical equipment and a camera for viewing. In thoracoscopic heart surgery, doctors use special long-handled tools to perform surgery while viewing magnified images from the thorascope (camera) on a video screen.

For mitral valve repair, thoracoscopic surgery and robotic-assisted surgery can also be used. A third minimally invasive option repairs the mitral valve using a catheter. A small incision is made in the groin, then a thin tube (catheter) is threaded through a vein toward the heart. Once there, surgeons will repair or replace the valve.

What is a da Vinci surgical system?

Da Vinci surgical systems are comprised of three components: surgeon console, patient-side cart, and vision cart.

Surgeon console

The surgeon console is where your surgeon sits during the procedure, has a crystal-clear 3DHD view of your anatomy, and controls the instruments. The tiny instruments are “wristed” and move like a human hand, but with a far greater range of motion.

Surgeons in Operating Room with the da vinci system

Patient cart

The patient-side cart is positioned near the patient on the operating table. It is where the instruments used during the operation move in real time in response to your surgeon’s hand movements at the surgeon console.

Vision cart

The vision cart makes communication between the components of the system possible and provides a screen for the care team to view the operation.

It’s important to remember that Intuitive does not provide medical advice. After discussing all options with your doctor, only you and your doctor can determine whether surgery with da Vinci technology is appropriate for your situation. You should always ask your surgeon about his or her training, experience, and patient outcomes.

About da Vinci systems

Robotic-assisted cardiac procedures

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)
Mitral valve repair

Talk with your doctor if you have any additional questions about these procedures.

Find a da Vinci surgeon

Heart Disease Facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web. 25 January 2019.
Heart Valve Disease. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Web. 25 January 2019.
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Web. 25 January 2019.

Disclosures and important safety information

Important safety information

Patients should talk to their doctor to decide if da Vinci surgery is right for them. Patients and doctors should review all available information on non-surgical and surgical options and associated risks in order to make an informed decision.

Serious complications may occur in any surgery, including da Vinci surgery, up to and including death. Serious risks include, but are not limited to, injury to tissues and organs and conversion to other surgical techniques which could result in a longer operative time and/or increased complications. For important safety information, including surgical risks, indications, and considerations and contraindications for use, please also refer to www.intuitive.com/safety.

Individuals' outcomes may depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to patient characteristics, disease characteristics and/or surgeon experience.

Da Vinci Xi system precaution statement

The demonstration of safety and effectiveness for the specific procedure(s) discussed in this material was based on evaluation of the device as a surgical tool and did not include evaluation of outcomes related to the treatment of cancer (overall survival, disease-free survival, local recurrence) or treatment of the patient’s underlying disease/condition. Device usage in all surgical procedures should be guided by the clinical judgment of an adequately trained surgeon.

Medical advice and locating a doctor

Patients should talk to their doctor to decide if da Vinci surgery is right for them. Other options may be available and appropriate. Only a doctor can determine whether da Vinci surgery is appropriate for a patient’s situation. Patients and doctors should review all available information on both non-surgical and surgical options in order to make an informed decision.

Surgeons who perform surgery using the da Vinci system can be found using the Surgeon Locator. Intuitive Surgical provides surgeons with training on the use of the da Vinci system but does not certify, credential or qualify the surgeons listed in the Surgeon Locator.

Product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intuitive Surgical or their respective owners. See www.intuitive.com/trademarks.

Intuitive for Cardiac Patients

Cardiac (heart) conditions

What is a da Vinci surgical system?

Robotic-assisted cardiac procedures