Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery

University Hospital was the first hospital between Rochester and Albany, Canada and Pennsylvania to conduct robotic-assisted, minimally invasive surgery for certain coronary artery bypass procedures, cardiac valve repair/replacement and other cardiac defects.

The program at University Hospital features the da Vinci Surgical System® and is one of only a few in the northeast that has extensive experience in robotic surgery. In fact, University Hospital’s Dr. Charles Lutz, head of the cardiac robots team, has been called upon to train surgeons in Boston and Albany for their first robotic cases.

What the da Vinci robot offers is unparalleled visualization (10X magnification and a 3D view) with instrument dexterity that translates and actually refines the movements of the human hand. But the robot is as good as the surgeon using it. And it is Dr. Lutz who is the acknowledged leader in our region in roboticassisted cardiac surgery.

All in all, robotic-assisted minimally
invasive cardiac surgery means:

Minimally invasive heart surgery is not for every patient.

To determine if you are a candidate

• Speak with your physician
• Call MD Direct at 800-464-8668 to speak to the Department of Surgery.