Traditional and robotic cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Miguel Gomez, founded International Robotic Surgery Center for the Heart and Chest with a commitment to practice state-of-the-art surgical techniques, such as robotic surgery and off-pump or beating heart surgery, that result in better patient outcomes. With more than 15 years experience, the advances he’s mastered help his patients experience:

• lower risk of infection
• fewer additional surgeries that cause more trauma to the body
• less risk of cognitive damage
• faster, less painful recovery

Robotic Surgery

Using the da Vinci Surgical System, Dr. Gomez has performed more robotic-assisted cardiothoracic surgeries than any other surgeon in Houston, Texas. The da Vinci Surgical System is a state-of-the-art medical robotic system that cannot be programmed or make decisions on its own. Working through small surgical openings with as much skill and precision as any other surgical tool, every maneuver is performed with direct input from Dr. Gomez.

The biggest benefit of robotic-assisted cardiothoracic surgery is that it assists surgeons in performing minimally invasive surgeries and procedures that result in better outcomes for patients. The 3D imaging system lets surgeons perform procedures inside a closed chest, with hand movements that surpass conventional surgery because the robot has more degrees of flexibility than the human hand. Only a few incisions are made, ensuring a much faster recovery time. The FDA first approved the da Vinci Surgical System for assisting in cardiothoracic surgery in 1997.

At International Robotic Surgery Center for the Heart and Chest, Dr. Gomez performs both traditional and robotic surgical procedures. The hallmark of Dr. Gomez’s practice is to use state-of-the-art technology to perform surgeries with the best outcomes and the least trauma to his patients. Those surgeries include:

Beating Heart Surgery

When performing bypass surgery, most cardiac surgeons stop the patient’s heart and connect it to a heart-lung machine. This machine, or pump, circulates and oxygenates the patient’s blood during surgery.

Off-Pump or beating heart surgery allows the heart to continue pumping blood to the body during surgery. A heart stabilizing device attaches to the heart using small suction pods that gently grip the heart to steady it while the surgeon works. In this state only the part of the heart receiving the bypass must be immobilized, while the rest of the heart continues to beat. Research reveals that this technique results in better recovery outcomes for bypass surgery patients.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms with Endovascular Approach

The aorta is the main artery from the heart to the body. An aneurysm is a weak spot that balloons out from the wall of a blood vessel. Aneurysms can burst and cause internal bleeding, in which case emergency surgery is required and the risk of death increases. We now have less invasive techniques using an endovascular approach to repair the aneurysm using catheters guided within the arteries, eliminating the need to cut the patient open.

Lung and Esophageal Surgery

Many different diseases afflict the lungs and esophagus. International Robotic Surgery Center for the Heart and Chest often uses robotic surgery to treat lung and esophageal conditions, and surgical removal of benign and malignant tumors. For example:

• lung cancer
• esophageal benign tumors
• thymoma
• other mediastinal

Using state-of-the art technology, including lasers and the da Vinci Surgical System, a computer assisted robotic tool, Dr. Gomez is able to make small incisions for entry allowing the patient to recover more quickly and safely from surgery.