Cardiologists on the medical staffs at Baylor Scott & White Health hospitals in Plano, Dallas and Fort Worth recently used robotic-assisted technology to perform coronary angioplasties or place cardiac stents. The three hospitals include The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano*, Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital*, Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center – Fort Worth. All procedures were performed using Corindus Vascular Robotics CorPath System—the first and only FDA-cleared medical device to bring robotic-assisted precision to coronary angioplasty procedures.
"Combining the enhanced visualization of the X-ray images with robotic precision will transform the way we perform angioplasty procedures and should ultimately improve patient care," said Srinivas Potluri, medical director of the cardiac catheterization laboratory at The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano. The first procedure was performed in January at The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano by Dr. Potluri.
Coronary artery disease (CAD), characterized by plaque buildup that restricts blood flow in the arteries, is a widespread and life-threatening condition. It is the most common form of heart disease and the leading cause of death in America.
"Robotics offers physicians and patients a minimally invasive technology that improves the precision of stent and balloon placements and reduces radiation exposure during the procedure for physicians," said Jeffrey Schussler, an interventional cardiologist and medical director of the intensive care unit, Baylor Heart and Vascular Hospital. That hospital performed their first robotic-assisted procedure on February 2.
Traditionally, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), commonly known as an angioplasty, is the most common treatment for CAD. During this procedure, a balloon is used to physically open an artery blockage and help improve blood flow. During an angioplasty, interventional cardiologists often use stents, or wire metal mesh tubes, to prop open the artery and keep it open following the procedure. While angioplasty procedures remain one of the most frequently performed procedures in the United States, with over 900,000 cases annually, the procedure itself has remained largely unchanged for decades.
*Joint ownership with physicians.
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About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform – MyBSWHealth. Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,200 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com
