The Robotic Mitral Valve Repair Program started in fall of 2018 and has now performed over 100 operations with 100% repair rates and excellent overall results. Our dedicated robotic cardiac surgery team includes a cardiac surgeon, cardiac surgery physician assistants, cardiac anesthesiologists, perfusionists, and dedicated operative nurses, as well as surgical technicians. The use of a specialized team ensures consistency in approach and outcomes for our patients. Mitral valve prolapse is the most common disease of the mitral valve, affecting 1 to 2% of the population. The leaflets of the valve essentially become floppy, eventually resulting in a “leaky” mitral valve that can cause symptoms of heart failure such as difficulty breathing on exertion, fatigue, and arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation. Robotic mitral valve repair is a treatment generally offered to patients with severe mitral valve regurgitation and mitral valve prolapse. The operation consists of five small incisions on the right side of the chest. The arms of the DaVinci Xi™ robot pass through these small incisions, allowing for a high level of dexterity and precision. Highly specialized tools are used to allow for the least invasive method of performing the surgery. Robotic mitral valve repair is associated with a short hospital stay—patients typically stay in the hospital 2 to 4 days following the surgery, and the majority of patients are back to work within 3 to 4 weeks. It’s also associated with the use of fewer blood products, less pain, fast recovery, superior cosmetic results, and high patient satisfaction. A majority of valves affected by mitral valve prolapse can be repaired by an experienced mitral valve surgeon. Yale is a high-volume mitral valve center that performs over 250 mitral valve procedures each year. Arnar Geirsson, MD, the chief of Cardiac Surgery for Yale Medicine, is a high-volume mitral valve surgeon who performs over 100 mitral valve operations per year, a majority of which are mitral valve repair. Because the repair can be complex, depending on each case, we encourage patients to seek out experienced mitral valve centers and surgeons to ensure that they receive the best results possible. Other conditions requiring repair, such as tricuspid regurgitation, and those requiring ablation (MAZE procedure) such as atrial fibrillation, can be done separately or in conjunction with robotic mitral valve repair. Conditions requiring mitral valve replacement can also often be done with the robotic approach.

At Yale Medicine, our cardiovascular physicians specialize in all types of heart conditions. Our expert teams focus on heart-related health issues, such as heart disease genetics, heart rhythm problems, heart failure, heart and blood vessel conditions, and heart transplants. Our cardiologists do more than just see patients; they also conduct research to learn more about the complexities of various heart diseases and investigate better ways to treat them. Through their work in five research centers at Yale our cardiologists participate in major research initiatives focused on all aspects of heart health. Our research teams are comprised of experts from all over the world—eight different countries and four continents, to be exact! Specialized care is offered in the following areas: Adult congenital heart disease Arrhythmia Cardiac imaging Cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure Coronary heart disease General cardiology (including stress tests and holter monitoring) Peripheral vascular heart disease Vascular heart disease

As our pediatric congenital heart disease patients move from childhood into adulthood, our program is there every step of the way to make sure they receive continuous, comprehensive care for even the most complex heart disease. Our multidisciplinary integrated program was the first in the state dedicated to the care of adult patients with complex congenital heart disease, and encompasses the full spectrum of care, including imaging, exercise testing, and surgical as well as less-invasive catheterization therapies. Our patients can expect to receive detailed information about their underlying congenital heart defect, its management, and the implications on their future heart function. Patients in the program are assured of the careful transition of care from their childhood diagnosis into adulthood, and appropriate wrap-around care for adults who are new to the program. Commonly encountered problems related to adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) include the following: Unrepaired congenital defects Complications associated with early surgical repair Heart failure Heart rhythm problems, including pacemakers and defibrillators Pregnancy issues Our expert, board-certified cardiac physicians and surgeons treat these, among other heart conditions: Atrial septal defect (ASD) Ventricular septal defect (VSD) Atrioventricular canal defect Bicuspid aortic valve Pulmonary stenosis Coarctation of the aorta Ebstein's anomaly Transposition of the great arteries, including those who have had a Mustard or Senning operation or arterial switch operation Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries Tetralogy of Fallot Complex single ventricle patients, including those who had a Fontan operation Cyanotic heart disease Patients who had a Ross operation as a child Congenital coronary anomalies, including ALCAPA (anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery) Instead of delaying treatment for complex congenital heart disease, our state-of-the-art imaging, including echocardiograms (ultrasound) and MRI, allows for early diagnosis, before symptoms may interfere with a patient’s life. Our program also works closely with Yale's maternal-fetal medicine team to care for women with congenital heart disease before and after they give birth. Yale’s world-class congenital cardiac catheterization lab provides access to the latest advances in transcatheter valve placement, treatment of atrial septal defects, and all forms of congenital heart disease. We provide comprehensive electrophysiology services, including management of arrhythmias and placement of pacemakers and defibrillators.