Weill Cornell Medicine uses the latest robotic surgery technology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City to perform minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Combining smooth and dexterous robotic instruments with a high-definition 3D camera, our team is able to perform procedures through very tiny incisions with a precision that would be impossible without the robot. In the case of mitral valve repair, Dr. Stephanie Mick, our Director of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Cardiac Surgery, uses 3 pencil-sized incisions and one 2 inch incision in chest to perform the procedure. Robotic heart surgery replaces a traditional sternotomy, which involves splitting the breastplate with a saw. The robotic method means minimal trauma, less blood loss and less overall discomfort for the patient.
Robotic Mitral Valve Repair
Robotic mitral valve repair is one of our more common procedures. The mitral valve sometimes can leak blood backward into the left atrium. This is mitral valve regurgitation which is often caused by mitral valve prolapse. Another condition, mitral valve stenosis is when the valve becomes narrow or restrictive which can cause blood to back up into the atrium and lungs. Robotic mitral valve repair and replacement can be performed in the vast majority of patients who need surgery with a very high likehood of repair rather than replacement. Other than the ability to use small incisions, other advantage of robotics is that it provides a high-definition 3D view of the mtiral valve that facilitates repair.
The robotic method is most often used to repair the mitral valve but if replacement is required due to extensive damage to the valve, a replacement can also be performed utilizing the same robotic incisions in many cases.
About Dr. Mick and the Robotic Heart Surgery Team
Dr. Mick strives to find the least invasive method for the comfort and safety of her patients. Her dedicated team was carefully selected based on their experience and skills, and their ability to support the mission of putting the patient’s needs first. We have a dedicated robotic heart surgery team that performs every case together and has very high standards of both individual performance and teamwork dedicated to a single mission: to provide patient with a safe and effective procedure.
The Robotic Heart Surgery Team currently specializes in the following procedures:
- Mitral valve repair
- Mitral valve replacement
- MAZE procedure (ablation procedure to treat atrial fibrillation)
- Atrial septal defect closure
- Removal of cardiac tumors (such as atrial myoxoma)
- Tricuspid valve repair
- Others
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Mick and the Robotic Heart Surgery Team at Weill Cornell Medicine, please call (212) 746-5166.
