The world’s first aortic valve replacement using a transcervical approach is a step closer to becoming a reality.
The global breakthrough in robot-assisted heart surgery is thanks to CardioPrecision, a company in Scotland, UK, that specialises in less invasive treatment of structural heart disease.
Its team recently demonstrated a proof-of-concept advanced videoscopic aortic valve surgery using the approach and robot assistance (AVATAR) procedure in Chicago, Illinois, US.
The procedure – via a tiny incision in the neck – was successfully performed on a series of human cadavers, representing an important milestone.
The company is an NHS spin-out through InnoScot Health and utilised its CoreVista Robot Enabling Platform and the Perceval Plus sutureless aortic valve from UK-based Corcym, a global medical device company focused on the structural heart area.
CardioPrecision’s chief medical officer and consultant cardiothoracic surgeon, Fraser Sutherland, worked with Rocco Bilancia, consultant thoracic surgeon at Scotland’s Golden Jubilee University National Hospital to introduce AVATAR to US robotic surgeons, Professor Husam Balkhy from the University of Chicago Medicine, and Professor Danny Ramzy at Memorial Hermann of University of Texas Houston.
Professor Rowan Parks, president of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh and previous chair of the RCSEd Robotic Taskforce, said: ‘There is vast potential here, and it is exciting to see a Glasgow company helping to lead the way while firmly putting Scotland on the map for this pioneering approach.
‘Robotic cardiac surgery is much less invasive than open heart surgery. Fundamentally, it removes the necessity of the surgeon having to cut through the breastbone to the chest, in turn removing many access-related complications. This could start more complex surgeries with quick advances, benefitting both patient and surgeon.’
Dr Ying Sutherland, chief executive of CardioPrecision, added: ‘The main benefit of performing surgery via the transcervical approach – making a small incision in the neck – is that this is a very well circulated area that heals quickly and with little or no pain. Most operations are done through the neck are performed as day cases. Our CoreVista Robot Enabling Platform opens up the ground-breaking possibility of day-case aortic valve surgery – a massive step forward in the field. We are tremendously grateful to have support from leading cardiothoracic surgeons in Scotland and the US.’
Dr Sutherland recounted that he and Professor Otto Dapunt performed the first transcervical surgical aortic valve replacement using the CoreVista platform some years ago.
He noted that surgical advancements now allow robots to provide the technical skill needed for complex operations, enabling widespread adoption of this technique and potentially benefiting patients worldwide.
