Robotically Assisted Heart Surgery for Atrial Septal Defects (ASD)

Overview and Facts about Robotically Assisted Heart Surgery for Atrial Septal Defects (ASD)

Robotically assisted heart surgery for atrial septal defects (ASD) is a type of minimally invasive cardiac surgery that can be used as an alternative to open heart surgery.

An ASD is a condition in which a hole develops in the atrial septum. The septum is the wall of muscle that separates the right and left sides of the heart. The atrial septum is the section of this muscle wall that separates the atria—the upper two heart chambers.

ASD is one of the more common congenital cardiac diseases. If the hole is large, this can cause the oxygenated blood from the upper left chamber to backflow into the upper right chamber from where it gets repumped to the lungs, causing extra work for the heart.

A smaller hole—known as a patent foramen ovale—can result in strokes or ministrokes.

What to Expect with Robotically Assisted Heart Surgery for Atrial Septal Defects (ASD)

During robotically assisted heart surgery for ASD, you will lay on your back and be given a general anesthetic.

After the skin on your chest is sterilized, a small incision is made on the right side of the chest. Robotic endoscopic instruments are inserted through the hole, and the surgeon uses a specially designed computer console to obtain a small section of tissue from the thin sac that surrounds the heart (the pericardium). This section of tissue is used to patch the hole in the atrial septum.

Once the ASD has been repaired, the surgeon will withdraw the instruments and close the incision. This robotic technique can be used to repair ASDs with large and small holes.

Because it is minimally invasive, the recovery time is shorter, and the risks are fewer than with more traditional surgical techniques. The procedure lasts between two and three hours, and you will need to stay in the hospital for three to four days.

Full recovery takes around four weeks.

What are the Risks of Robotically Assisted Heart Surgery for Atrial Septal Defects (ASD)?

Possible risks of robotically assisted heart surgery for ASD are minimal due to the minimally invasive nature of the surgery. However, potential risks include:

Bleeding
Heart failure
Infection