The choise of port access for robotic minimally invasive heart surgery using da Vinci S system / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective Subject To summary the port placement and system set-up for robotic minimally invasive heart surgery using da Vinci S system in China. Methods 400 patients accepted selective robotic minimally invasive heart surgery from January 2007 to January 2011. We conducted a retrospective review of port placement and system set-up for all the surgeries. During the surgery 3-4 ports were made in the lateral thoracic wall and the position of ports were modulated according to the types of diseases, the procedure and patients' habitus. The surgeon completed the procedure before the surgeon console.The arms of da Vinci S system was adjusted according to surgery procedure. Results The right lateral ports were suitable for the intracardiac operation with extracorporeal circulation. And the left lateral ports can be used in the inner thoracic artery harvesting and coronary bypass graft on beating heart. Except for 1 case changed to sternotomy because of sever pleural adhesions,no arms collision and mechanical malfunction during the surgery that leaded to surgical conversion. Conclusion Robotic minimally invasive heart surgery can be safely applied to partial cardiac surgeries. The port position and system set-up should be adjusted according to the habitus of patients and surgical requirement.