At Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Heart Institute, we are establishing a formal pediatric robotic-assisted heart surgery program built on existing expertise, multidisciplinary collaboration, and a commitment to selecting the right approach for each patient. In robotic-assisted surgery, the surgeon remains fully in control, using highly precise instruments and high-definition visualization to perform complex procedures through smaller incisions when appropriate.
This program builds on experience that is already firmly in place. Our multidisciplinary collaboration with Dr. Tom Nguyen and the robotic cardiac surgery team at Baptist Health South Florida brings together one of the nation’s most experienced teams in robotic-assisted pediatric and congenital cardiac surgery. The collaboration has already resulted in Florida’s first robotic-assisted adult congenital cardiac procedure for cor triatriatum, and Nicklaus Children’s is now preparing to establish what would be the nation’s second formal pediatric robotic cardiac surgery program.
A successful robotic-assisted heart surgery program depends on far more than the surgeon or the technology. Pediatric cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, cardiac anesthesiologists, perfusionists, imaging specialists, nurses, rehabilitation experts, and other members of the care team will work together to evaluate each patient and determine whether a robotic-assisted approach is appropriate. The goal is to build on proven experience and coordinated care to expand minimally invasive options for children and other patients with congenital heart disease.