Robotically Assisted Preparation of an Internal Mammary Artery for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

(Archived Version Now Available)

Fargo, N.D. – On Monday, Oct. 14, 2002, the nation’s first live surgical webcast of a robotically assisted heart surgery took place at MeritCare Health System, Fargo, N.D. The webcast is available for viewing by the public anywhere in the world, giving the public an unprecedented, first look at robotically assisted surgery in action. (MeritCare is one of a handful of healthcare institutions in the nation to broadcast a live, surgical webcast and is the first in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.)

The surgery was performed by MeritCare cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon Roxanne Newman, M.D., and was originally broadcast live, via webcast on Oct. 14, 2002. MeritCare cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon Ajit Damle, M.D., answers questions from the public and healthcare professionals from across the nation that were submitted via an e-mail link during the live webcast.

So far, due to FDA approval requirements, MeritCare heart surgeons have only used the robot to assist with small surgical steps within larger heart procedures. The robotically assisted portion of the surgery is the preparation of an internal mammary artery for coronary artery bypass surgery. Currently, MeritCare heart surgeons use the robot three-to-four times a week for this procedure