Grayson H. Wheatley

Papers

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About

Grayson H. Wheatley is a pioneering cardiothoracic surgeon whose research focuses on advancing minimally invasive and robotic mitral valve surgery. His major contributions center on overcoming technical limitations of endoaortic balloon occlusion, a technique used to arrest the heart during robotic procedures. Wheatley demonstrated that ascending aortic endoballoon occlusion is feasible even in patients with moderately enlarged aortas (greater than 38 mm), challenging prior contraindications and expanding surgical candidacy. He also developed an innovative axillary artery access method for combined endoballoon occlusion and antegrade perfusion, offering an alternative cannulation site for patients with prior cardiac surgery. His work has practical impact, with papers like "Ascending Aortic Endoballoon Occlusion Feasible despite Moderately Enlarged Aorta to Facilitate Robotic Mitral Valve Surgery" (6 citations) and "Axillary Artery Access for Combined Endoaortic Balloon Occlusion and Perfusion during Robotic Mitral Valve Surgery" (2 citations) providing foundational techniques for safer, less invasive procedures. Wheatley’s contributions are notable for their direct clinical application, enabling surgeons to perform totally endoscopic repairs in complex cases, such as patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafting. His research continues to shape the evolution of robotic cardiac surgery.