ROBOT-ASSISTED CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFTING: SINGLE-CENTER EXPERIENCE

Highlights

• Contemporary trends in global cardiac surgery are characterized by a growing number of operations performed using various minimally invasive techniques.
• Since 2024, we have been utilizing the da Vinci Si robotic system for cardiac surgical interventions. The results of the performed operations have demonstrated the reproducibility and safety of robot-assisted coronary artery bypass grafting during the initial phase of the learning curve.
• The phased mastery of robot-assisted coronary artery bypass grafting ensures the safe integration of robotic cardiac surgery into routine clinical practice.

Aim. To demonstrate the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of robotic technology in cardiac surgery based on our own results of robot-assisted coronary artery bypass grafting.

Methods. Between June 2024 and June 2025, 30 robot-assisted coronary artery bypass grafting procedures were performed in the Department of Cardiac Surgery at University Clinical Hospital № 1. Intraoperative parameters and patient outcomes within the first 30 postoperative days were evaluated.

Results. In-hospital mortality, conversion rate to sternotomy, and incidence of postoperative bleeding were 0%. The mean operative time was 293 ± 63 minutes. 10 (33.3%) procedures were performed using parallel cardiopulmonary bypass, while the remaining 20 (66.7%) were performed off-pump. The mean number of distal anastomoses was 1.7 ± 0.7.

Conclusion. The path to realizing the full spectrum of benefits of robot-assisted coronary artery bypass grafting – be it minimal invasiveness or rapid patient recovery – lies in overcoming the inevitable learning curve. In the initial phase of mastering this technique, the true clinical advantages may remain obscured by technical challenges, highlighting the importance of a systematic approach to integrating robotic technology into routine practice.

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