St. Anthony Hospital (ssmhealth.com)
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital has become the first hospital in Oklahoma to perform robotic cardiac surgery, marking a milestone in cardiovascular care in the state.
The surgery was successfully performed Wednesday using the hospital’s newest da Vinci 5 robotic surgical system. The hospital said it is the only facility in the Oklahoma City market with da Vinci 5 technology dedicated to cardiac procedures.
Alejandro Murillo-Berlioz, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon at SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital, performed the hospital’s first robotic cardiac procedure.
“Robotic technology continues to transform the way we care for patients with heart disease,” Murillo-Berlioz said. “The DV5 system is designed to enhance precision and visualization, allowing us to perform complex cardiac procedures through smaller incisions. This approach may help reduce trauma to the body while maintaining the highest standards of surgical care and improving outcomes for our patients.”
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 18 million deaths each year. Traditionally, many cardiac procedures require opening the chest by splitting the breastbone, which can lead to increased pain, a higher risk of complications and longer recovery times.
The da Vinci 5 system is designed to support minimally invasive approaches by allowing surgeons to operate through small incisions without opening the breastbone. The hospital said the technology includes 10,000 times more computing power than previous models, smart instrumentation that captures more than 1,000 data points per second, and enhanced 3D imaging to improve visualization of vessels and blood flow. It also includes an integrated digital ecosystem intended to support care from pre-operative planning through post-operative analysis.
Procedures supported by the system include mitral valve repair and replacement, coronary artery bypass grafting support procedures, atrial septal defect repair, left atrial appendage closure and other complex cardiac interventions.
“This investment underscores our commitment to providing our community with access to the most advanced care available, close to home,” said Tammy Powell, president of SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital and SSM Health Bone & Joint Hospital at St. Anthony. “Early on, surgeons at St. Anthony recognized the benefits of treating patients through the use of robotic technology, and they have fully embraced that approach. We are continually looking ahead to what’s on the horizon to take surgery to the next level. Today, we are proud to lead the way in Oklahoma, with more surgical robots than any other system in the state, and we remain focused on providing our patients with the safest, least invasive, and least painful treatment options possible.”
