Robotic mitral valve repair-the Bruxelles experience.

Background: Although the use of the surgical robot facilitates less invasive mitral valve surgery, both real and perceived limitations have slowed the application of this technology. Aim of the present investigation was to report the early and long-term results of robotic mitral valve repair in a single institution over a 10-year period. Methods: Between March 2012 and May 2022, a total of 278 consecutive patients underwent robotically assisted mitral valve repair at the Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc (Brussels, Belgium). Indications have evolved over time allowing the treatment of complex mitral valve lesions. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up were 97.8% and 86.1% complete, respectively. Results: Mean age of the study population was 57.8±11.9 years and 221/278 (79.5%) patients were male. Despite being asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic [New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I-II], most of the patients presented with severe mitral regurgitation (MR). Degenerative mitral valve disease was the most common cause of MR. All patients underwent successful mitral valve repair using different techniques, and 25/278 (9.0%) had one or more concomitant procedures associated. The mean cardio-pulmonary bypass and aortic cross clamp times were 153±37 and 106±25 minutes, respectively. There was no operative or in-hospital mortality. Overall survival rate was 97.8%±3.2%, 95.8%±3.2% and 93.7%±3.0% at 3, 7 and 10 years. One early (0.4%) reoperation with re-repair was recorded for ring disruption, while late mitral valve re-repair was necessary in 4/279 (1.4%) patients for recurrent severe MR in three of them and mitral endocarditis in one. The overall freedom from mitral valve reoperation was 98.1%±1.0% at 3, 7 and 10 years. Overall freedom from MR (grade 2+ or more) was 91.7%±3.2%, 77.8%±4.8% and 67.1%±9.2% at 3, 7 and 10 years, respectively. Conclusions: Robotic mitral valve repair is safe and is associated with excellent clinical and echocardiographic results. The use of robotic technologies allows, after an appropriate learning curve, to reproduce all conventional techniques to treat MR, regardless of the complexity of the valve lesion.

Robotic mitral valve repair: A single center experience over a 7-year period.

BACKGROUND: We report the clinical and echocardiographic results of our experience in robotic mitral valve repair over a 7-year period. The outcomes of the earliest and the latest patients will be compared. METHODS: Between March 2012 and October 2019, 226 patients underwent robotic mitral valve repair for severe mitral regurgitation in a single institution. The first 113 patients (Group 1) were operated between March 2012 and September 2015 and the last 113 patients (Group 2) between October 2015 and October 2019. Conventional techniques employed in open surgery were used. Clinical and echographic follow-up were 96.0% and 94.2% complete, respectively. RESULTS: Successful mitral repair was achieved in all cases with no hospital mortality. The overall survival rate was 92.7 ± 2.8% and 91.0 ± 3.2% at 3 and 7 years, respectively, with no in between groups difference (p = 0.513). The overall freedom from mitral reoperation was 97.4 ± 1.2% at 3 and 7 years and was similar in both groups (p = 0.276). Freedom from mitral regurgitation Grade 2+ at 3 and 7 years were 89.1 ± 2.6% and 87.9 ± 2.8%, respectively, with no significant difference between groups (p = 0.056). CONCLUSIONS: Developing a robotic mitral repair program can be done without compromising the safety and efficacy of repair. After a well-conducted training, robotic approach allows to perform simple and complex mitral repair using similar techniques as in conventional approach and without additional risk for the patient.

Myocardial revascularization: Tips and tricks for performing a coronary anastomosis.

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery was performed for the first time in the 1960s [(1]). Today, it is still one of the pillars of cardiac surgery and the most common cardiac operation. Many improvements have been developed since it was first introduced, but such operations remain technically challenging. We focus here on the surgical exposure and suture techniques for different grafts and targets. The goal of standardizing surgical techniques is to improve intraoperative and postoperative outcomes, especially for young practitioners.