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Advocate Christ Medical Center, one of the leading cardiac hospitals in the nation, has introduced yet another groundbreaking procedure to the Chicago area. As the heart surgery leader in northern Illinois, the medical center currently offers the most advanced cardiovascular treatment and state-of-the-art technology available today. It is one of a select few hospitals nationwide, and the only hospital in Illinois, to offer the robotic mitral valve repair surgery as part of a study approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The robotic surgery is just one example of the many highly sophisticated procedures performed by expert physicians at Christ Medical Center.

Conventional repair of the heart’s mitral valve traditionally requires a large incision and surgical opening of the breastbone. What makes the robotic surgery so innovative and beneficial to patients are the robot’s tiny instruments and precise control that enable surgeons to perform the entire valve repair through a few small incisions.

The benefits of robotic surgery are many. The minimally invasive procedure means that a patient:

• spends less time on a ventillator
• has less chance of infection and bleeding
• will experiences less scarring
• experiences a shorter recovery period of two fewer days on average, because the breastbone is not opened
• may have a more rapid return to their regular daily activities

The tiny instruments, inserted through 2 1/2" incisions, are controlled by a physician at a nearby computer-driven console, while another surgeon and surgical team stay with the patient to ensure proper positioning of the robotic arms and to assist with the surgery. A tiny camera, inserted along with the surgical tools, gives surgeons and the surgical team a three-dimensional view of the inside of the heart, while the robot enables microscopic precision in operating by eliminating any naturally occurring slight shaking of the hand.

Eligibility Criteria: The eligibility requirements for patients who participated in this robotic mitral valve repair surgery study were to have been 18 to 80 years of age, with a leaking mitral valve. Doctors, upon review, made the final judgement as to who was a good candidate for this procedure.

Robotic Mitral Valve Surgical Team:

	Dr. Pat Pappas, cardiovascular surgeon
	Dr. Mark Slaughter, cardiovascular surgeon
	Dr. Antone Tatooles, cardiovascular surgeon

To make an appointment with the cardiac experts at Christ Medical Center, call:
1-800-3-ADVOCATE (1-800-323-8622)