A SCOTTISH firm has made a global breakthrough in heart surgery.
Glasgow-based CardioPrecision demonstrated a new robot-assisted surgery method in Chicago, replacing the aortic valve of the heart in several cadavers.
The company's new technology allows the procedure to be carried out through a small incision in the side of the neck, much less invasive than the traditional open-heart surgery it requires.
READ MORE: Surgeon who worked in Gaza urges support for National's MAP emergency appeal
CardioPrecision, which was spun off from NHS Scotland via commercialisation partner InnoScot Health, works to make heart surgery less invasive.
The technology was recently used in 2023, when an American hospital used it to extract a leg vein for use in a coronary artery bypass.
The Chicago demonstration is hoped to improve its business in the United States, where it is hoping to expand.
The firm calls the technology it used for the demonstration AVATAR, or Advanced Videoscopic Aortic valve surgery by Transcervical Approach using Robot-assistance.
Professor Rowan Parks, president of Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh said: “Robotic cardiac surgery is much less invasive than open-heart surgery. It removes the necessity of the surgeon having to cut through the breastbone to open the chest, in turn removing many access-related complications.
“There is clearly vast potential here and it is exciting to see a Glasgow company helping to lead the way while putting Scotland firmly on the map for this pioneering approach."
Dr Ying Sutherland, chief executive of CardioPrecision, said: “The main benefit of performing surgery via the transcervical approach – making a small incision in the neck – is that this is a very well circulated area that heals quickly with little or no pain. Most operations done through the neck are performed as day cases.
“Our CoreVista robot enabling platform therefore opens up the groundbreaking possibility of day case aortic valve surgery – a massive step forward in the field. We are tremendously grateful to have support from leading cardiothoracic surgeons in both Scotland and the USA.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here