Epic Plus Valve for Robotic Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery with Dr. Robert Smith

In this video, Dr. Robert Smith, a leading cardiac surgeon who specializes in minimally-invasive mitral valve surgery at Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital in Plano, Texas, explains why and how he uses the Epic Plus valve during robot-assisted mitral valve replacement operations.

Key questions answered by Dr. Robert Smith in this video include:

1. What is mitral valve disease? What are the symptoms of regurgitation and stenosis? Can patients be asymptomatic?

2. Is mitral valve disease serious? Can mitral valve disease lead to debilitating symptoms, co-morbid diseases (atrial fibrillation), heart failure and death?

3. Specific to treating mitral valve disease... Are minimally-invasive techniques Dr. Smith's preferred approach for accessing the heart? Why?

4. What are the patient and surgeon benefits for using a robot during mitral valve surgery?

5. The robot has been used for mitral valve repair procedures for 20+ years. Why is Dr. Smith now using the robot to perform mitral valve replacement operations?

6. How have new mitral valve replacement devices, like the Epic Plus, enabled Dr. Smith to perform robotic mitral valve replacement?

7. Is robotic mitral valve replacement using the Epic Plus as durable as a traditional open-heart procedures (e.g. sternotomy)? What is the 10-year durability data of the Epic Plus mitral valve replacement?

8. What new medical innovations are in the Epic Plus valve? Radiopaque markers? Anti-calcification tissue treatments? Adaptability for future "valve-in-valve" transcatheter procedures?

9. What else should patients know about robotic mitral valve replacement using the Epic Plus?

10. What is Dr. Smith's number one piece of advice for patients needing mitral valve surgery?

[andreafryt]

Dr Smith was my surgeon for a mitral valve repair. What a difference the repair has made to my daily life & routines.Thank you Dr Smith❤

[OLDGUY]

To watch the evolution of valve surgery in the past decade, it's just

[arbolitos]

As always, Thank you for sharing these extremely helpful videos!

[antoniorengifo]

Excellent comprehensive presentation.
Thank you!

[joannegingertrumppresiden]

Can the transcatheter approach be used for very leaky valve?

[bondjane]

How can I know if I should get valve repair/replacement when I am an older woman having shortness of breathe & chest pain?
I don't want to just treat the symptoms & have the disease progress till I am even older & in worse condition. So who could I see in L.A., Ca. who does minimal robotic accepting medicare & LA Care which is Medical??
I am worried my heart doc wants to wait & treat symptoms & I will get worse & worse. I am already very close to the grave.
I'd like to get it fixed before I am too run down.
How can I know when to get it fixed via robotic assisted technique in L.A., Ca.

[isabelwang]

Does this mean we can use valve in valve epic plus tissue valve for mitral valve replacement through groin without open heart surgery? I have mitral valve replacement OHS 10 years ago using pig valve and planning the 2nd replacement. Thank you very much for sharing new technology.

[dennislurvey]

I have a leaky mitral valve, and tricuspid. they were moderate at one time but are now mild. I am symptomatic. BUT I was injured in Vietnam and the VA won't help me, very backwards thinking people. But they do send us to community for care. How do I get the VA to want to save my life?