Danielle Spragan

Main Line Health, Lankenau Institute for Medical Research

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Dr. Danielle Spragan is a pioneering cardiothoracic surgeon whose work is reshaping the landscape of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Her primary research focus is the advancement and standardization of robotic-assisted minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (R-MIDCAB), a technique designed to reduce the trauma associated with traditional open-heart surgery. Dr. Spragan’s major contributions lie in demystifying this complex procedure. Her highly cited 2024 paper, "Step-by-step technique of robotic-assisted minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass," provides a crucial, detailed roadmap for surgeons, directly addressing the drawbacks of full sternotomy—such as increased morbidity and extended hospital stays. Complementing this, her work "Robotic-assisted coronary artery bypass grafting: how I teach it" establishes a formal pedagogical framework for the next generation of cardiac surgeons, outlining the distinct steps and necessary components for effective training. With her recent publications garnering significant early attention (7 and 6 citations respectively), Dr. Spragan is not only refining surgical technique but also building the educational infrastructure to ensure its safe and widespread adoption, positioning her as a key architect in the future of less invasive cardiac surgery.