These days, robots are commonly used to perform surgery in specialties like gynecology and urology. In cardiology, robotic surgery has been around for awhile, but it's only offered in select clinics around the country.
Dr. Sanjay Tripathi recently began performing robotic heart surgery on patients at Porter Adventist Hospital in Denver. He's the only cardiac surgeon in the state currently using the procedure.
The technique can be used to repair valves, correct atrial fibrillation, remove tumors from inside the heart and perform bypass surgery in some patients. Patients, like Robert Mauer of Highlands Ranch, say the procedure results in less blood loss, less pain and quicker recovery times. Mauer and Dr. Tripathi spoke with Colorado Matters host Andrea Dukakis.
Watch a video about robotic heart surgery.
Watch the da Vinci robot peeling a grape and stitching it back together.
