Early experience with robotic aortic valve replacement

We report our initial experience with aortic valve replacement using robotic assistance. All procedures were performed with peripheral cardiopulmonary bypass, transthoracic aortic cross-clamp, and antegrade cold crystalloid cardioplegia. One or two ports and a 5-cm intercostal incision in the right chest were used for access. All patients had aortic valve replacement performed robotically. Between February and September 2004, five patients underwent robotic aortic valve replacement. The mean age was 59 years (range 35–82 years). There were no incisional conversions, death, stokes, or reoperations for bleeding. Overall mean study times were as follows: procedure, 231.2min (range 180–315min); cardiopulmonary bypass, 121.5min (range 83–173min), and cross-clamp, 98.2min (range 67–140min). One patient developed postoperative pneumonia. Aortic valve replacement can be successfully performed with the da Vinci robotic system.