Patient complexity does not affect surgical learning curve and clinical outcomes during early experience in robotic assisted coronary surgery

Abstract

Adoption of robot-assisted coronary artery bypass grafting (RA-MIDCAB) remains limited due to concerns about learning curves, outcomes, and patient-specific anatomic challenges. This study evaluates our initial single-center experience with RA-MIDCAB. Between December 2022 and June 2024, 52 patients underwent RA-MIDCAB. Inclusion criteria comprised isolated left anterior descending artery (LAD) stenosis or LAD revascularization as part of a hybrid valvular/coronary strategy. Primary endpoints were 30-day mortality, conversion to sternotomy, and graft injury. Operative times and biometric indices (body indices such as body mass index [BMI], Haller Index, and Cardiothoracic Ratio) were analyzed for correlation with learning curve progression and surgical outcomes. Mean age was 68.5 ± 11.5 years, and 82.7% (43/52) were males. Robotic LITA harvesting was successfully completed in 98.1% (51/52) of patients (one patient had a graft injury), with no perioperative mortality. Postoperative complications occurred in 38.5% (20/52), mostly due to atrial fibrillation (19.2%, 10/52) and acute kidney injury (13.5%, 7/52) with no correlation with operative times at logistic regression. According to thoracic indexes, no correlation was found between chest complexity and postoperative complications. Neither EuroSCORE II, BMI nor thoracic indices significantly impacted operative times. Linear regression demonstrated significant reductions in overall surgical and graft-harvesting times across the experience, suggesting improved efficiency. RA-MIDCAB is feasible and safe, even in patients with challenging thoracic anatomy. This early experience demonstrated promising outcomes and significant learning curve improvements, supporting the potential for broader adoption of this technique even in patients unlikely deemed suitable for minimally invasive cardiac revascularization surgery.