Precision and Progress: How Robotic Technology Is Transforming Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) Surgery- Dr Yugal Kishore Mishra

In the past decade, the medical industry has witnessed a vast shift and the emergence of robotic technology. One area in which this technology has shown remarkable results is cardiovascular surgery.

Especially atrial septal defect (ASD) has gained a lot of attention, and surgeons have been increasingly able to perform complex cardiac surgeries with the help of this technology. This cutting-edge technology, combined with the expertise of experienced professionals, provides better results, greater safety, and more accuracy than traditional surgery.

Understand the Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)

An atrial septal defect (ASD) is a congenital heart defect characterized by a hole or defect in the wall of the atrium, the heart's upper chamber. In this condition, a gap between the upper chambers of the heart allows blood to bypass the lungs.

This opening normally closes if it is small around the time a baby is delivered, larger defects don’t close on their own which needs surgical closure allowing it to start breathing and circulating oxygen-rich blood. If the opening exists after birth, an ASD develops.

Larger defects, which induce higher blood flow and the shunting of blood back into the pulmonary circulation, may cause problems by middle age. An ASD, if left untreated, can lead to heart failure or stroke. Individuals with ASD could suffer from problems such as heart infection, heart failure, and an abnormally fast heart rhythm.

How is a robotic atrial septal defect (ASD) performed?

The most recent and advanced strategy for the treatment of atrial septal defects is robotic repair using the Da Vinci Surgical System'. This approach allows a surgeon to perform surgeries from a safe distance. The fiberoptic stereoscopic camera provides the surgeon with a great three-dimensional picture of the heart.

This procedure uses robotic arms controlled by experienced professionals using advanced machinery that magnifies the site in video, holds the instruments, and performs other functions inside the body.

The surgeon's hand motions are received by a computer processor, which converts and transmits them to the fine tool, which is inserted into the chest through small port incisions along the side of the chest. This technology allows the surgeon to perform more precise movements with a much wider range of motion within the small surgical site.

Robot-assisted atrial septal defect (ASD) can be done under either beating or non-beating heart conditions.

This technology offers surgical solutions that improve precision, faster recovery and improve patient outcomes. Robotic ASD repair makes use of modern robotic technologies that are guided by expert surgeons. Through small instruments that replicate the surgeon's hand movements, these systems deliver high-definition views and remarkable accuracy.

Benefits of Robotic Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)

This technique has proven to be a lot more beneficial than traditional methods.

• Smaller and fewer scars: Scars are reduced with robotic surgery. Surgeons only need to make 4 or 5 minor incisions to effectively complete the surgery. This means that larger and more intrusive cuts are no longer necessary. Because the incisions are smaller, there is less exposure to interior body structures. This reduces the chance of major infections.
• Minimal Blood Loss: During robotic surgery, the patient loses very little blood. Because these are carried by robotic arms that operate in tiny and narrow spaces, the incisions and cuts made by the robot are substantially smaller than those made in traditional surgeries, resulting in less blood loss. Moreover, when operating on blood vessels, the robot cauterises them. It encourages rapid clotting of blood and reduces overall bleeding.
• Quicker Recovery: When compared to traditional approaches, robotic surgeries recover in less time. Because of the small incisions, patients recover faster after robotic surgery. The small incisions heal quickly and do not have a significant impact on the interior body's muscles and tissues.

Growth of Robotic Surgery in India

There has been a rapid increase in the adoption of robotics technology. As per the data collected by the National Library of Medicine, in 2006, India received its first urologic robotic installation at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. In India, robotic surgery grew at an exceptional rate during the next decade. As of July 2019, our country had 66 centres and 71 robotic installations, with over 500 trained robotic surgeons.

Over the last 12 years, more than 12,800 surgeries have been performed using robotic technology. The numbers are expected to rise as more robotic surgeons are trained and other surgical specialities adopt this system more frequently. This trend shows the increase in robotic surgery in India and will continue to be rapid in the following years.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are of the author and not of Medical Dialogues. The Editorial/Content team of Medical Dialogues has not contributed to the writing/editing/packaging of this article.