Project description:There is considerable interest and demand in the application of minimally invasive techniques in cardiac surgery driven by multiple factors including patient cosmesis and satisfaction, reduction of surgical trauma and the development of specialized instrumentation that allows these procedures to be performed safely. Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) has been conducted for more than 25 years and has been shown to offer multiple benefits including better cosmetic results, enhanced post-operative recovery, improved patient satisfaction and most importantly, equivalent clinical outcomes with regards to quality and safety when compared to the standard sternotomy approach. MIMVS may be particularly beneficial in certain subgroups of patients, for example patients undergoing redo mitral valve surgery. In this article, we discuss patient selection criteria for MIMVS, the merits and drawbacks of MIMVS relative to conventional sternotomy approaches, and detail procedural aspects including anaesthetic management, intraoperative technique, and important considerations in myocardial protection and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). When considering developing a MIMVS programme, as for any new technique, a team approach to the introduction of the programme is essential. Although it is clear that patient selection is important, particularly early in a surgical programme, with experience complex repairs can be performed through a minimally invasive approach with excellent outcomes.
Project description:ObjectivesInstitutional studies suggest robotic mitral surgery may be associated with superior outcomes. The objective of this study was to compare the outcomes of robotic, minimally invasive (mini), and conventional mitral surgery.MethodsA total of 2300 patients undergoing non-emergent isolated mitral valve operations from 2011 to 2016 were extracted from a regional Society of Thoracic Surgeons database. Patients were stratified by approach: robotic (n=372), mini (n=576) and conventional sternotomy (n=1352). To account for preoperative differences, robotic cases were propensity score matched (1:1) to both conventional and mini approaches.ResultsThe robotic cases were well matched to the conventional (n=314) and mini (n=295) cases with no significant baseline differences. Rates of mitral repair were high in the robotic and mini cohorts (91%), but significantly lower with conventional (76%, P<0.0001) despite similar rates of degenerative disease. All procedural times were longest in the robotic cohort, including operative time (224 vs 168 min conventional, 222 vs 180 min mini; all P<0.0001). The robotic approach had comparable outcomes to the conventional approach except there were fewer discharges to a facility (7% vs 15%, P=0.001) and 1 less day in the hospital (P<0.0001). However, compared with the mini approach, the robotic approach had more transfusions (15% vs 5%, P<0.0001), higher atrial fibrillation rates (26% vs 18%, P=0.01), and 1 day longer average hospital stay (P=0.02).ConclusionDespite longer procedural times, robotic and mini patients had similar complication rates with higher repair rates and shorter length of stay metrics compared with conventional surgery. However, the robotic approach was associated with higher atrial fibrillation rates, more transfusions and longer postoperative stays compared with minimally invasive approach.
Project description:Mitral valve disease is common in the United States and around the world, and if left untreated, increases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Mitral valve repair is technically more demanding than mitral valve replacement. Mitral valve repair should be considered the first line of treatment for mitral regurgitation in younger patients, mitral valve prolapse, annular dilatation, and with structural damage to the valve. Several minimally invasive percutaneous treatment options for mitral valve repair are available that are not restricted to conventional surgical approaches, and may be better received by patients. A useful classification system of these approaches proposed by Chiam and Ruiz is based on anatomic targets and device action upon the leaflets, annulus, chordae, and left ventricle. Future directions of minimally invasive techniques will include improving the safety profile through patient selection and risk stratification, improvement of current imaging and techniques, and multidisciplinary education.
Project description:Aortic valve surgery is the preferred procedure for replacing a damaged valve with an artificial one. The ValveTech robotic platform comprises a flexible articulated manipulator and surgical interface supporting the effective delivery of an artificial valve by teleoperation and endoscopic vision. This article presents our recent work on force-perceptive, safe, semiautonomous navigation of the ValveTech platform prior to valve implantation. First, we present a force observer that transfers forces from the manipulator body and tip to a haptic interface. Second, we demonstrate how hybrid forward/inverse mechanics, together with endoscopic visual servoing, lead to autonomous valve positioning. Benchtop experiments and an artificial phantom quantify the performance of the developed robot controller and navigator. Valves can be autonomously delivered with a 2.0±0.5 mm position error and a minimal misalignment of 3.4±0.9°. The hybrid force/shape observer (FSO) algorithm was able to predict distributed external forces on the articulated manipulator body with an average error of 0.09 N. FSO can also estimate loads on the tip with an average accuracy of 3.3%. The presented system can lead to better patient care, delivery outcome, and surgeon comfort during aortic valve surgery, without requiring sensorization of the robot tip, and therefore obviating miniaturization constraints.
Project description:ObjectivesAlthough clinical experience with transcatheter mitral valve interventions is rapidly increasing, there is still a lack of evidence regarding surgical treatment options for the management of recurrent mitral regurgitation (MR). This study provides guidance for a minimally invasive surgical approach following failed transcatheter mitral valve repair, which is based on the underlying mitral valve (MV) pathology and the type of intervention.MethodsA total of 46 patients who underwent minimally invasive MV surgery due to recurrent or residual MR after transcatheter edge-to-edge repair or direct interventional annuloplasty between October 2014 and March 2021 were included.ResultsThe median age of the patients was 78 [interquartile range, 71-82] years and the EuroSCORE II was 4.41 [interquartile range, 2.66-6.55]. At the index procedure, edge-to-edge repair had been performed in 45 (97.8%) patients and direct annuloplasty in 1 patient. All patients with functional MR at the index procedure (n = 36) underwent MV replacement. Of the patients with degenerative MR (n = 10), 5 patients were eligible for MV repair after removal of the MitraClip. The 1-year survival following surgical treatment was 81.3% and 75.0% in patients with functional and degenerative MR, respectively. No residual MR greater than mild during follow-up was observed in patients who underwent MV repair.ConclusionsMinimally invasive surgery following failed transcatheter mitral valve repair is feasible and safe, with promising midterm survival. The surgical management should be tailored to the underlying valve pathology at the index procedure, the extent of damage of the MV leaflets and the type of previous intervention.
Project description:Objective: The aim was to assess the long-term outcomes, safety, and durability of total endoscopic mitral valve repair for Barlow mitral valve disease. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 98 patients undergoing minimal invasive total endoscopic mitral valve repair for Barlow mitral valve disease was conducted between May 2009 and December 2023. A non-resectional repair approach using artificial neochordae and/or ring annuloplasty was performed. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-ups were completed. Rates per patient-years with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for all time-to-event outcomes were calculated. Results: The mean age was 59 ± 12, and 43% were female. Minimally invasive mitral valve repair was successfully performed in all 98 patients with no conversions to sternotomy or mitral valve replacement. There was no mitral valve-related reoperation during the hospital stay. Procedural safety was as follows: no in-hospital mortality, no stroke, and no perioperative myocardial infarction. The mean follow-up was 4.1 ± 3.1 years. Survival at seven years was 87% (95% CI 63% to 96%). Freedom from myocardial infarction, stroke, and congestive heart failure was 89% (95% CI 60% to 97%), 93% (95% CI 82% to 97%), and 100%, respectively. Recurrent mitral valve insufficiency at Grade ≥ 2 was diagnosed in n = 4 (4.1%) of cases. Conclusions: Minimally invasive mitral valve repair using a non-resectional technique for Barlow disease can be performed with a low complication rate. The total endoscopic approach is safe in the long term, with minimal risk of reoperation and recurrent mitral valve insufficiency.