Use of contrast-enhanced echocardiography to confirm endo-aortic balloon placement in robotic mitral valve surgery

Abstract

Interest in robotic cardiac surgery continues to increase in an effort to meet the patient demand for effective, minimally invasive techniques. For robotic cardiac surgery to be performed as safely and effectively as the gold standard midline sternotomy, a series of innovative techniques and tools are required to allow standard principles of cardiac surgery to translate to robotic techniques.1 One challenge is effective occlusion of the ascending aorta to allow for cardioplegia delivery and venting.