A new robotic assistance platform for interventional cardiology available at the Policlinico San Donato

"The procedure, performed thanks to technological instrumentation, first becomes less operator-dependent. The concept behind the implementation of such machines deserves first and foremost to be explained to patients. 

I would put it this way: if we think of the fighter pilot, we can identify without too much hesitation who is the best professional, the Top Gun so to speak, nor do we expect everyone to be equally capable of piloting military fighters. If we think of the airliner pilot, on the other hand, we expect everyone to be equally capable of commanding the craft. The use of robotics ensures that the interventional procedure has a very high standard of quality, so it is less operator-bound," the expert explains.

The benefits, however, do not stop there. They are, in fact, numerous: 

• total protection from X-rays;
• a lower radiological exposure of the operator, in this way completely safe to the control of the console located outside the operating room. 

"Just think of the field of angioplasty and peripheral or carotid interventional procedures: during these often lengthy procedures, the operator, operating in close proximity to the X-ray tube, is exposed to a great many rays; the use of such instrumentation brings and will bring, in this field, clear advantages and benefits, for physicians and patients," the physician continues. 

Moreover, the assistance provided by the robot is absolutely reliable and precise. Anthropomorphic technology facilitates the navigation of devices within the vascular system, making it possible to reproduce any hand movement: movements are improved, as are the conditions of intervention, and shortened timelines. 

The Interventional Cardiology and Hemodynamics Department at Policlinico San Donato represents excellence and a point of reference for: 

• complexity and number of cases implemented;
• innovative techniques used;
• scientific articles' production. 

It is the first center in Italy for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and transcatheter mitral valve repair according to GISE 2022 (Italian Society of Interventional Cardiology) data. The team led by Dr. Bedogni also stands out in the field of coronary interventional procedures and pervious foramen closure procedures. There are more than 3,500 procedures conducted each year using percutaneous and minimally invasive techniques.

"At Policlinico San Donato we firmly believe in the value generated by the aid of robotics, even more so when combined with the expertise of our professionals: that's why we wish to be at the forefront, to invest hopes and especially know-how of all our experts, even in this field of such recent application. Here many come to learn, here new generations can acquire knowledge and skills by having cutting-edge technologies with developments that are not yet fully calculable, this new robotic assistance platform among them," Dr. Bedogni concludes.