| We've come a long way from the days when the | | | | attention to detail. Being on the leading |
| first open heart surgery operation took place | | | | edge is not always the easy route to take. |
| in terms of cardiac rehabilitation programs. | | | | |
| There may be a number of significant reasons | | | | Many places are limited by the cost, many are |
| for this progress including progress in the | | | | limited by ego or the fear to be the leader |
| area of the surgery itself. One significant | | | | and some take the bull by the horns and step |
| improvement is that of using robotic heart | | | | up to the task of figuring it out and getting |
| surgery and the impact that has on the | | | | it right. This type of leadership is common |
| recovery of the patient. The da Vinci | | | | at Riverside and it bespeaks of the risks |
| surgical robot is being used quite regularly | | | | allowed and encouraged to help patients get |
| by skilled surgeons in the Chicago area. | | | | in and get out with the least amount of |
| | | | trauma and injury. That is what doctors are |
| The procedures are becoming more comfortable | | | | and should be about. Do no harm. It is a |
| for the heart patients and thus an easier | | | | long road to get people to understand that |
| recovery. By using robotic-assisted surgical | | | | technology is a great assistant. For those |
| technique and allowing minimally invasive and | | | | who have been on the long road to being a |
| extremely exacting surgical techniques, the | | | | trained surgeon it is hard to imagine wanting |
| patient has less trauma to their body, there | | | | to take the time and effort to learn a new |
| is less pain and scarring which leads to | | | | skill and become proficient at using a new |
| faster healing and a reduction in the risk of | | | | tool. |
| infection. There is also the possibility of | | | | |
| less blood loss during the surgery so the | | | | In the United States and Canada it typically |
| body is stronger coming out of the operation. | | | | takes six to nine years as a resident to |
| | | | become a fully qualified cardiothoracic |
| The use of robots in cardiothoracic surgery | | | | surgeon. This of course is after medical |
| throughout the country may be on the increase | | | | school and after undergraduate school. The |
| but out of all of the hospitals, the Chicago | | | | dedication to their craft is undeniably |
| area has perhaps some of the most prominent | | | | astounding. The benefit to all this comes |
| hospitals on the leading edge technology. | | | | out when the patient now leaves the hospital |
| The reasons for this commitment can be | | | | after a few days instead of a few weeks. Not |
| attributed to a number of reasons, but the | | | | only are we able to do more with the heart |
| number one reason is the patients. The focus | | | | and surgery, we are able to be more accurate |
| on taking care of patients and on the path to | | | | and less invasive, all to the benefit of the |
| healing is a driving force that allows this | | | | patient. |