Safdarjung Hospital performs first robotic systemic AV valve replacement
New Delhi: In a historic achievement, a team of surgeons at VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital has successfully performed a robotic systemic atrioventricular (AV) valve replacement in an adult patient with a rare combination of congenital heart defects.
According to hospital authorities, the surgery is the first reported case in medical literature in which a robotic system was adapted through a left-sided approach to replace a systemic AV valve in a patient with both congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) and dextrocardia.
The minimally invasive procedure was carried out by the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS), led by Professor Dr Anubhav Gupta, on an adult patient diagnosed with ccTGA along with dextrocardia, according to a statement issued by the hospital, news agency PTI reported.
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Dr Gupta said the successful adaptation of robotic surgery for such a rare and complex cardiac anatomy demonstrates the potential of minimally invasive techniques in managing highly challenging congenital heart diseases.
According to the hospital statement, the patient had severe leakage of the systemic atrioventricular valve, which was pumping blood to the body under high pressure because of the congenital defect.
The condition had already led to deterioration in heart function, making the surgery particularly challenging, it said.
To prepare for the surgery, the surgical team developed a detailed three-dimensional reconstruction of the patient’s CT scan to map the altered anatomy.
Unlike conventional robotic mitral valve surgery, which is usually performed through the right side of the chest, the team adopted a left-sided robotic approach because the patient’s heart was positioned on the right side of the chest due to dextrocardia, it stated.
The procedure was performed through small ports without splitting the breastbone, using robotic arms and high-definition three-dimensional visualisation for precision.
According to the hospital, the minimally invasive approach is associated with reduced blood loss, lower risk of infection, less post-operative pain and faster recovery compared with conventional open-heart surgery, reports PTI.
Hospital Director Dr Kavita Sharma said the achievement highlights the growing capability of India’s public healthcare system in advanced robotic cardiac surgery and reflects the institution’s focus on innovation and patient care.
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