Guest: Phillip Rowse, M.D.
Guest: Marty Unruh, APRN, C.N.P., D.N.P.
Host: Kyle Klarich, M.D.
In this episode of “Interviews With the Experts,” listeners will hear a discussion on the most important questions patients should ask as they consider whether or not to pursue a robotic-assisted approach for surgical treatment of their valvular heart disease. It is clarified how robotic heart surgery works, including associated risks, benefits, and misconceptions. And finally, there is a discussion on the expected short- and long-term results of robotic heart valve surgery.
Topics Discussed:
• What types of procedures can be performed robotically, and how does robotic surgery compare to traditional and other minimally invasive techniques?
• Who qualifies for robotic surgery, and is it safe and effective?
• What testing is needed beforehand, what is the typical recovery time, and how long is the hospital stay and return-to-work timeline?
• Do surgeons perform the procedure or does the robot operate independently?
• How many robotic surgeries has Mayo Clinic performed, and what are the benefits compared to open-heart surgery (sternotomy)?
