Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Replacement with a Robotic Digital Microscope

Extracorporeal telescopes have been the latest addition to the neurosurgeons' armamentarium. The implementation of three-dimensional exoscopes in minimally invasive cardiac surgery seems feasible for safe utilization and may also be a promising tool in terms of surgical education. Understanding learning curves, informing surgical training, and evaluating procedures in practice are crucial for assessing a new surgical technique or technology.

A perfect image is essential in minimally invasive mitral valve surgery. The 3D exoscope allows for an enhanced image quality of the surgical field while also being more ergonomically favorable. The major benefits of the exoscope include the ocular independent visualization of the surgical field and the similar 3D visualization for all participants of the surgery.

The exoscope allows high-quality visualization of the operative field and an unobstructed view of the surgeon’s hands, instruments, and working angles (Fig 2). This allows a clear dual perception of the surgical field by the assisting surgeon and allows for a more efficient workflow thanks to robotic-assisted features along with remarkable vision quality. Assisted or automated positioning enables surgeons to execute precision movements through a multi-axis robotic arm, providing a 3D digital visualization display to enhance the precision needs that surgeons require for complex surgical procedures. It also includes a heads-up display that can be viewed simultaneously by all healthcare workers in the operating room with 3D glasses (Fig 3).

In addition, assisted or automated positioning enables surgeons to execute precision movements through a multi-axis robotic arm, providing a 3D 4K digital visualization display to enhance the precision needs that surgeons require for complex surgical procedures.

This video illustrates the exoscope technique. An eighty-year-old patient with severe chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation and impaired left ventricular function (ejection fraction < 40 percent) underwent mitral valve replacement. Functional MR was due to morphological and functional abnormalities of the left ventricle in which the main mechanism of MR was the asymmetric restriction of one posterior mitral leaflet.

Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery was performed as usual. The robotic platform allows easy and less invasive placement in the operating room (Fig 4).

Robotic assisted, precise repositioning places the camera head exactly, allowing for a more efficient workflow with a remarkable vision quality (Fig 5). Once optimal visualization is obtained, the mitral valve is inspected and surgery can be performed (Fig 6).

Reference(s)

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