ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 7, 2011 - Florida Hospital has been a leader in robotic technology and the commitment to minimally invasive surgery methods continues as Dr. Joseph Boyer performed the first complete robotic cardiac surgery in Central Florida. This minimally invasive surgical approach allows patients to get back to normal activity weeks faster than traditional open heart surgical approaches.
“It is really exciting to be able to bring this type of robotic procedure to the Central Florida community,” said cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Joseph Boyer. “In many cases patients now have a choice of a more minimally invasive option.”
The first patient to have this completely robotic procedure, Angelo Guzman, 65, had coronary heart disease and needed to have an artery relocated to the heart to provide improved blood supply to his heart. Instead of having an open surgery procedure, where the ribcage is separated and the patient is put on a heart and lung machine to control the functions of those organs while they are stopped, Angelo opted for a robotic approach. Instead of recovering from a major chest incision, Angelo has just four dime-sized incisions where the robot arms were inserted. Dr. Boyer operated the robot during the procedure while Angelo’s heart and lungs operated as they normally do, with no assistance from a heart- lung bypass machine.
This robotic approach means Angelo’s recovery requires a 3-4 day stay in the hospital and he will be back to normal activity in about two weeks. In an open heart surgery, the recovery is typically about 6-8 weeks.
“My cousin had open heart surgery, and he was telling me about this large incision on his chest,” said Guzman. “I was so thankful that there was another alternative that got me back to normal, faster.”
In just a decade, robotic surgery has become a popular minimally invasive surgery technique. Currently at Florida Hospital the daVinci robot is used for urology, gynecology, bariatric, thoracic and cardiology surgeries. Florida Hospital Orlando is committed to advancing cardiac and vascular care within the Central Florida community though minimally invasive techniques and the implementation of a heart and lung transplant program. Robotic surgeries on the heart have been the most recent development of the daVinci robot because of the complex nature of these procedures.
For more information, contact the Florida Hospital Media Relations Department at 407-303-8217.
