Robotic mitral valve surgery—current status and future directions

Robotic mitral valve surgery is the most common robotic cardiac procedure performed today. Benefits include smaller, less invasive incisions resulting in less pain, shorter length of hospital stay, improved cosmesis, quicker return to preoperative level of functional activity, and decreased blood transfusion requirements. The history and evolution of robotic mitral valve surgery is detailed in this article. Our institution has performed over 800 robotic mitral valve surgeries, and our technique and outcomes are described. Outcomes and operative times are similar to that for sternotomy and minimally invasive approaches to mitral valve surgery. The benefits and limitations of robotic mitral valve surgery are compared with conventional approaches, and future directions are also discussed.