Totally Endoscopic Robotic Mitral Valve Surgery

Mitral valve dysfunction can seriously impair patients' lives and may require valve repair or replacement. Surgery can be performed using techniques including sternotomy; right thoracotomy with or without robot assistance; and the totally endoscopic robotic technique, which requires percutaneous techniques, femoral cannulation, and endovascular aortic cross-clamping. The totally endoscopic robotic technique has been facilitated by minimally invasive surgical techniques, the evolution of endoscopic techniques, and the development of surgical robots. These advances have enhanced the view of the surgical field and provide better exposure for the repair or replacement of the mitral valve and subvalvular apparatus. This article describes the totally endoscopic robotic approach to mitral valve surgery as performed at Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.