Current advances in robotic heart surgery and nanotechnology

In the last several years dramatic changes have occurred in the field of cardiothoracic surgery permitting new and evolving technologies to be applied to the benefit of patients. One example of these changes is the field of less invasive heart surgery. The principle causes of morbidity and mortality in conventional open heart surgery are related to the use of the heart/lung bypass machine and the sternal splitting incision. In response to this problem researchers and surgeons have developed several surgical and technical innovations that make open heart surgery less invasive, reducing pain and reducing recovery time. In this article we will review the principles of minimally invasive surgery including minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) and the da Vinci™ computer-enhanced surgical robotic system as well as the novel biomedical engineering strategy known as nanotechnology. These innovative technologies are likely to have a dramatic impact on the future of heart care.