A new study published in the Annals of Cardiothoracic Surgery found that robotic aortic valve replacement (RAVR) provided encouraging short- and mid-term clinical outcomes. Researchers evaluated patients who underwent RAVR between 2022 and 2024. The focus of the study was on mortality, complications, and heart function over time.
The study included 15 patients, with an average age of 38.6 years. Most were male, and the median Society of Thoracic Surgery (STS) risk score was low, at 0.6%. Two-thirds underwent isolated RAVR, while the rest had additional procedures, e.g., mitral valve repairs or ascending aortoplasty. Majority of the cases involved mechanical valves.
No conversions to open surgery were needed, and the median hospital stay was 9 days. Four patients were extubated directly in the operating room. Only one patient required ICU readmission, and another was readmitted for pleural effusion. Follow-up extended up to 29 months, with no deaths reported. Most patients were in NYHA class I at last follow-up, indicating minimal or no symptoms.
While left ventricular ejection fraction remained stable, there was a significant reduction in left ventricular end-diastolic diameter.