Cardiothoracic Surgery

How is robotic-heart surgery different than open heart surgery?

The most widely used approach for treating patients with heart disease is open surgery using a sternotomy. This requires the surgeon to open the chest by making a 18-inch incision in the breast bone, exposing the heart and its vessels. This is considered one of the most invasive and traumatic aspects of open chest surgery.

A state-of-the-art alternative treatment is robotic surgery using the da Vinci^® S HD™ Surgical System. Robotic surgery eliminates the need for large incisions, allowing surgeons to perform procedures through 1-2 centimeter incisions.

How does robotic heart surgery benefit the patient?

By enhancing traditional surgical capabilities, the da Vinci Surgical System helps to improve clinical outcomes and redefine standards of care. Because there is no need to open the chest, patients experience reduced trauma to the body, reduced blood loss and need for transfusions, less postoperative pain and discomfort, less risk of infection, shorter hospital stay, and faster recovery and return to normal daily activities.

How is Saint Francis using robotic surgery for cardiothoracic surgeries?

Saint Francis has served as a clinical innovator in robotic heart surgery in Southeast Missouri. Edward M. Bender, MD, FACS, Chief of Cardiac Surgery, has served as a driving force behind the robotic surgery program at Saint Francis Medical Center. He has committed much time to developing new surgical techniques, allowing him to adopt this technology well ahead of others. In his more than 10 years at Saint Francis, Bender has brought numerous new procedures and techniques to the area. This commitment has made Saint Francis a leader cardiothoracic surgery, giving patients access to the latest and best surgical procedures.

Bruce A. Jones, MD, has performed hundreds surgeries using the da Vinci S HD Surgical System and has played an active role in teaching other surgeons to use the robot. As part of his work as a proctor for Intuitive Surgical, Inc., the manufacturer of the da Vinci robot, he helped establish the robotic heart surgery program at Saint Francis.