Robotics in cardiac surgery

Minimally invasive surgery has revolutionized the surgical field over the last two decades. Robotic assisted surgery is the latest iteration towards less invasive techniques. Cardiac surgeons have slowly adapted minimally invasive and robotics techniques into their armamentarium. In particular, minimally invasive mitral valve surgery has evolved over the last decade and become the preferred method of mitral valve repair and replacement at certain specialized centres worldwide because of excellent results. We have developed a robotic mitral valve surgery program which utilizes the da Vinci telemanipulation system allowing the surgeon to perform complex mitral valve repairs through 5mm port sites rather than a traditional median sternotomy. In this rapidly evolving field, we review the evolution and clinical results of robotically-assisted mitral valve surgery and take a look at the other cardiac surgical procedures for which da Vinci is currently being used.