New Delhi, August 2 (ANI): VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital has achieved what it says is a historic milestone in cardiac surgery by performing the world’s first robotic systemic atrioventricular (AV) valve replacement in an adult patient with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) and dextrocardia.
According to the hospital, the procedure was carried out under the leadership of Director Dr. Kavita Sharma. The hospital said the achievement places VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital at the forefront of advanced robotic cardiac surgery and reflects its commitment to clinical excellence, innovation, and advanced patient care in India’s public healthcare system.
The minimally invasive procedure was performed by a surgical team led by Professor Dr. Anubhav Gupta, director professor and head of the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS).
The patient had a rare combination of structural heart abnormalities, including ccTGA, a congenital condition in which the heart’s lower chambers are reversed, causing the weaker right ventricle and its associated AV valve to pump blood to the entire body under high systemic pressure.
The patient also had dextrocardia, a condition in which the heart is positioned on the right side of the chest instead of the left.
Over time, the patient’s systemic AV valve developed severe leakage, increasing the risk of heart failure. The patient’s heart function had already deteriorated, making the operation more complex. A detailed 3D reconstruction of a CT scan was used to carefully plan the procedure.
To address the patient’s unique anatomy, Dr. Gupta and his team developed a new surgical approach. Standard robotic mitral valve replacement procedures are typically performed through the right side of the chest. Because the patient’s heart was positioned on the right side, the team instead used a specialized left-sided approach that mirrored the conventional right-sided robotic technique.
Working through small incisions without splitting the breastbone, the surgical team used high-definition 3D visualization and robotic instruments to perform the procedure with precision inside the repositioned chest cavity.
According to the hospital, the approach offers several benefits, including avoiding a sternotomy, reducing blood loss and infection risk, minimizing postoperative pain, and allowing for faster recovery.
The hospital said this is the first reported case in medical literature in which a robotic system has been adapted through a left-sided approach to replace a systemic AV valve in a patient with ccTGA and dextrocardia.
The hospital said the procedure reflects its commitment to innovation in advanced patient care and highlights the expertise available within India’s public healthcare system. (ANI)
About The Author
