First robotic heart surgery performed at ISMETT

For the first time ever in a Southern Italy hospital, a cardiac surgery procedure was performed using the da Vinci System that provides surgeons the ability to perform robotic-assisted minimally invasive, video-assisted surgery. The procedure, a coronary artery bypass graft, was performed at ISMETT, the center born from an international partnership between the Sicilian Region and UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center). The surgery was performed by a team led by Francesco Musumeci, Senior Consultant in Cardiac Surgery, with anesthesiologist Dr. Maria Scarlata.

The da Vinci system is a robotic platform that offers a computerized interface between the surgeon and the surgical instruments. This system is already used at ISMETT for abdominal and thoracic procedures, allowing for precise and effective minimally-invasive interventions. This recent procedure was the first use of robotic technology in cardiac surgery at ISMETT.

“The use of robotics in cardiac surgery is the approach of the future,” explains Professor Francesco Musumeci. “It eliminates the need for traditional surgical incisions and enables minimally-invasive procedures, thus improving the quality of care provided to patients. The technique offers numerous benefits for the patient, including enhanced precision during surgery, reduced risk of complications, and a shorter postoperative recovery time.”

In order to perform the procedure, three small incisions are made in the patient’s chest, through which a small camera and two tiny surgical instruments are inserted, along with a lateral incision of approximately 4 cm.

The surgeon sits at a console, where a high-definition, three-dimensional image of the operating field is displayed, magnified ten times. From the console, the surgeon controls the robot’s arms using two manipulators (similar to joysticks). This allows for optimal visualization of the various anatomical structures, ensuring maximum precision.

“The benefits for the patient,” says Musumeci, “are multiple. The procedure is performed on a beating heart without extracorporeal circulation [NdT: in italiano “extracoroporea”], which allows a very rapid postoperative recovery and minimal risk of complications. The patient can be discharged after 3-4 days and quickly return to a normal life.”