FIRST da VINCI HEART VALVE SURGERY IN BUCKS COUNTY
03/20/2009
Doylestown Hospital Site of Bucks County’s First
Heart Valve Surgery with Da Vinci Robot System
Doylestown Hospital was the site of Bucks County’s first robotic surgical heart valve procedure on Tuesday, March 17, 2009. Cardiothoracic surgeon Joseph Auteri, MD, successfully completed the mitral valve repair with the 3-D High Definition da Vinci S Surgical System. The patient, a 72-year-old man from Warrington, Pa., is doing well.
The da Vinci is designed to expand the surgeon’s capabilities and provide patients with a minimally-invasive option for many complex procedures. The da Vinci S is the first in clinical service in Bucks County. It features 3-D High Definition visualization with enhanced viewing resolution to provide superior clarity and detail.
The mitral valve is a complex structure that controls blood flow through the left side of the heart. Surgical repair involves delicate reconstruction of native mitral valve tissues in order to restore proper function. Traditional open heart surgery requires cutting the sternum (sternotomy). With robotic surgery there is no need for sternotomy, which allows for shorter hospital stays, less post-operative pain, reduced risk of infection and fewer complications.
The da Vinci mitral valve repair is less invasive and offers potential benefits over traditional surgery including decreased post-operative pain, shorter hospital stay, less risk of infection and quicker return to activity. The new system allows Doylestown Hospital surgeons to build on their many years of clinical experience with the most advanced technology available. When Dr. Auteri joined The Heart Institute of Doylestown Hospital as Director in 2007, he was one of only a few cardiovascular surgeons in the country experienced in the use of robotic technology for minimally invasive mitral valve repair. With the arrival of the da Vinci system at Doylestown Hospital, Dr. Auteri continues to be at the forefront of an elite group of surgeons nationwide performing this exacting cardiac procedure.
The first da Vinci in Bucks County will continue to be used by Doylestown Hospital surgeons for urologic and cardiothoracic procedures. Doylestown OB/GYN doctors will soon perform gynecologic procedures with the da Vinci. The benefits of leading-edge technology combine with those of a community hospital setting to offer local residents a greater degree of choice and confidence when it comes to their care.
