A new form of surgery may prove beneficial for the heart patients of the Ohio State University Medical Center.
New technology helps improve heart surgery for mitral valve repair with the help of a grant from the Food and Drug Administration that allows the use of robotics in the surgery, said Diane Buchele, R.N. and research coordinator.
One benefit from the use of robotics in heart surgery is that patients will have a quicker and less painful recovery, Buchele said.
“The recovery time for the patient will be cut into half,” Buchele said.
With the use of robotics, the incisions made in the patient will be smaller than normal.
Buchele also said that this procedure will be less invasive for the patient mentally.
Because the robotics will require long-term training for the physician and a lot of skill, this form of surgery will not take over the standard way with a hands-on surgeon, Buchele said.
Phyllis Slob, a past patient of Riverside Hospital, received a triple bypass in June. Slob was not aware of this new form of surgery and said she is relieved doctors are now finding ways to improve the recovery process.
“My recovery was somewhat painful, but not as bad as what I thought it would be,” Slob said.
Slob spent three weeks at a recovery center where she was helped to get her strength back in her arms.
“I had a lot of faith in my surgeon and trusted in him completely,” Slob said.
She said she would have an open mind if her physician recommended she use the robotic surgery.
“I would trust my doctor if he knew how the robotics worked and would explain to me what was going to happen,” Slob said.
This new use of robotics in heart surgery will be no burden to the patient. It will be no more costly than the standard form of surgery, Buchele said.
Most hospitals will be able to perform this surgery with the use of robotics, she said.
