by T. Sloane Guy, MD | Aug 4, 2019
It depends on the procedure. Essentially all procedures inside the heart do require the heart lung machine (mitral valve repair, mitral valve replacement, atrial septal defect closure, surgery for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, MAZE procedure, tricuspid valve repair or... by T. Sloane Guy, MD | Aug 4, 2019
We routinely get a TEE (transesophageal echocardiogram) before surgery and in the operating room both before and after mitral valve repair. We also use advanced 3D imaging to understand what is wrong with the valve. Maybe because my military background, I feel that... by T. Sloane Guy, MD | Aug 4, 2019
The short answer is yes, for sure. There are several companies working on newer robotic systems and the existing company that makes the surgical robot is continually improving its platform. Additionally, there is a lot of development in progress for trans-catheter... by T. Sloane Guy, MD | Aug 4, 2019
The simple answer is yes and may be higher. My own repair rate is around 95-98%. Repair is strongly preferred over replacement (with a cow or pig valve or mechanical valve which have their drawbacks) in most patients. In general, the only valves I don’t repair are... by T. Sloane Guy, MD | Aug 4, 2019
First, you will have to come into the office to determine if your problem can be solved with robotic heart surgery techniques. If this is the case, we will schedule you for a few routine test and pick a date for surgery that fits your needs. If robotics is not... 
