Cardiac surgery has reached an incredible milestone this week—completing the 100th robotic surgery. This achievement marks a significant step forward in expanding the boundaries of heart care and providing patients with state-of-the-art treatment options.
Arnar Geirsson, MD, Director of the Surgical Heart Valve Program, stands at the center of progress. An expert in robotic mitral valve repair, Dr. Geirsson has been instrumental in developing and advancing the robotic approach, shaping the future of heart surgery for time to come.
Robotic surgery is not entirely new to the medical field, but it has gained significant traction over the past decade, particularly in cardiac procedures. While robotic mitral valve repair began over 20 years ago, it’s only recently that the technique has become widely adopted. Advances in technology, such as the development of the Da Vinci robot, have made these procedures more efficient and accessible.
“The technology has advanced significantly over the last ten years, and there are more devices coming,” says Dr. Geirsson. “Patients want less invasive surgery; and it’s a way to offer an alternative to transcatheter therapies.”
For Dr. Geirsson and his team, the goal is clear: to provide the best possible options for patients. “To me, only a net good can come from a multitude of options for someone,” he says.
Watch Dr. Geirsson ask AI a Mitral Valve Repair Question
In our series "Dr. AI," Dr. Geirsson posed a challenging question to the AI chatbot, ChatGPT:
What is the best way to treat severe mitral regurgitation due to mitral valve prolapse?
Mitral regurgitation is the backward flow of blood through the heart, often due to mitral valve prolapse, where the supporting leaflets and tendon-like cords weaken. Curious to see how well AI handles such a complex medical question? Will it recognize recent robotic advancement? Check it out.
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Related:
- What to Know about Robotic Repair for Mitral Disease
- Why Robotics? Five Questions with Heart Surgeon Dr. Arnar Geirsson
- An Interview with Dr. Craig Smith, Heart Surgeon, Chair of Surgery, and Author of Nobility in Small Things