Canadian heart surgeons have successfully treated a rare congenital heart anomaly using minimally invasive robotic cardiac surgery.
The procedure marks a landmark in heart surgery and is believed to be the world's first robotic operation for this condition.
In late November, Drs Gianluigi Bisleri and Daniel Burns at Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital treated a patient with the rare congenital condition, cor triatriatum.
Characterised by a thin membrane within either the left or right atrium that divides the chamber into two compartments, it effectively creates three atrial chambers instead of two. This restricts blood flow and can lead to shortness of breath, fatigue and even heart failure.
The Schroeder BRAIN&HEART Centre is one of Canada’s highest-volume cardiac centres, with a strategic focus on expanding its robotic programme to address rare and highly complex cardiac conditions.
The da Vinci system’s high-definition, three-dimensional endoscopic visualisation proved a critical advantage.
While cardiac surgeons traditionally rely on magnifying loupes, the robotic platform provides unparalleled clarity – essential in this case to ensure the complete and precise removal of the abnormal membrane from the patient’s heart chamber.
Unlike conventional open-heart surgery, which requires splitting the breastbone and a lengthy recovery, robotic cardiac surgery often enables patients to return home within a few days.
Altaf Stationwala, president and CEO of Unity Health Toronto, said: ‘The successes never stop. I am very proud of this team. We’re fundamentally changing how heart surgery is done, but also changing access to care.
‘We are fortunate that irrespective of where you come from, we all have access to the most significant and impactful care. And we’re very fortunate that our clinicians continue to push the envelope and make people’s lives that much better.’
Watch the surgeons talk through the procedure here.
