The Division of Cardiac Surgery at BWH has been performing minimally invasive heart surgery techniques for coronary bypass grafts and mitral valve repairs since 1996. Such techniques offer patients less pain and scarring and more rapid recovery than conventional open-heart surgery because surgeons are able to repair the heart through small incisions in the chest wall. In 2001 BWH introduced the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System. Robotic arms, which are connected to microscopic surgical instruments and a high-resolution camera, are passed through keyhole incisions above the heart. At a display console, the surgeon manipulates levers, and these motions are mimicked by the computer, virtually placing the surgeon's hands inside the chest. This program was initiated by generous private donations provided by Mr. and Mrs. Elliot Comenitz and recently augmented by former patient Stanley Bernstein and his family.
For more information, please call 617-732-7678.
Send Feedback to: 
