Robotic Technology Being Used in Heart Surgeries - Brief Article

AORN Journal,  Jan, 2000  

• E-mail
• Print
• Link

The first remote control minimally invasive heart surgery in the United States was performed Sept 2, 1999, at the Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus. The minimally invasive heart surgery technique uses sensitive remote-controlled surgical instruments guided by a surgeon at a computer, according to a Sept 4, 1999, news release from the university.

The system allows surgeons to use three much smaller chest incisions---each approximately the size of a pencil--than normally required. A tiny camera with multiple lenses is inserted into the patient's chest to provide a three-dimensional view of the heart. A viewport shows the physician the images on a computer screen while he or she manuevers joysticks to control the two robotic arms holding specially designed instruments.

Physicians expect this technology to cause less postoperative pain and faster recovery times for patients. Researchers also anticipate robotic systems will be used in practically all medical fields in the future.

Ohio State researchers will continue to perform heart surgeries using this technology as part of a national study required by the US Food and Drug Administration before the system can be used regularly. Ohio State University and the University of Leipzig, Germany, are the only sites studying this robotic technology. Ohio physicians trained to use this equipment for several months in Europe before performing this procedure. During the past several months, European researchers performed more than 100 successful procedures using the enhanced surgical system.

Ohio State Medical Center Uses Robotic Heart Surgery Technique (press release, Columbus, Ohio: Ohio Store University, Sept 4, 1999) 1-2.

COPYRIGHT 2000 Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group