Robotic-Assisted Cardiac Surgery Now at Genesis

Zanesville, Ohio (Aug. 8, 2019) Genesis HealthCare System launched a robotic-assisted cardiac surgery program that improves patient outcomes. Atiq Rehman, M.D., chief of cardiothoracic surgery at the Genesis Heart & Vascular Institute, uses robotic cardiac and other minimally-invasive procedures that provide patients with faster healing and a return to activities more quickly. Dr. Rehman has performed more than 300 robotic procedures.

“We offer a full spectrum of minimally invasive procedures that include robotic-assisted cardiac surgery, and our goal is to bring the best and most creative, innovative cardiovascular medicine to this area,” Dr. Rehman said. “Because of our robotics program, people can stay in this community to receive quality heart care that allows them to leave the hospital after a short stay.”

One of the procedures now performed with robotic assistance is coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This procedure restores blood flow to the heart after arteries have become blocked due to coronary artery disease. During this procedure, a new blood vessel is grafted into place to bypass the blockage and restore normal blood flow. Robotic-assisted CABG is a less invasive option compared to open-heart procedures because it makes a key hole incision that only exposes the damaged heart vessels during the procedure.

Robotic-assisted heart surgeries offer better results for patients in the operating room as well as during recovery. Unlike other procedures, surgeons performing robotic-assisted surgery avoid having to perform a sternotomy, or cutting through the breast bone, instead treating the heart through small incisions between the ribs on the side of a patient. This greatly reduces the traumatic impact of the operation, as well as the risk of negative outcomes. This process speeds recovery, reduces pain and leaves patients with smaller, less noticeable scars.