"First-in-human" totally robotic orthotopic heart transplant

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Robotic Surgery

Background:

• Traditional heart transplantation necessitates median sternotomy, a complex procedure for major organ replacement.
• The feasibility of minimally invasive heart transplantation remains an area of active investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a safe and effective totally robotic technique for heart transplantation.
• To explore robotic surgery as an alternative to sternotomy for heart transplant procedures.

Main Methods:

• A multidisciplinary team conducted cadaveric training for robot-assisted cardiac surgery.
• Emphasis was placed on minimizing donor organ ischemic time for patient safety.
• An in-vivo operation was performed after achieving technical proficiency.

Main Results:

• A successful totally robotic heart transplant was performed on a 16-year-old male patient.
• The patient experienced a short ischemic time, mechanical ventilation for less than 24 hours, and rapid mobilization.
• Reduced postoperative pain and a shorter hospital stay were observed.

Conclusions:

• Totally robotic heart transplantation is a viable and safe alternative to conventional sternotomy.
• This minimally invasive approach offers significant benefits for patient recovery and outcomes.
• Further research into robotic cardiac surgery can advance transplantation procedures.