Minimally Invasive & Robotic Cardiac Surgery

The Minimally Invasive & Robotic Cardiac Surgery Program at St. Michael’s Hospital provides advanced surgical treatment for patients with heart valve disease, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation and selected congenital heart conditions using less invasive approaches whenever appropriate.

Referrals

Instead of a traditional sternotomy, many procedures can be performed through small incisions between the ribs or using advanced robotic technology. These approaches are designed to reduce surgical trauma while maintaining the safety and effectiveness of conventional cardiac surgery, and may lead to less pain, shorter hospital stays and a faster return to normal activities.

The program has particular expertise in minimally invasive and robotic mitral valve repair, surgical and hybrid treatment of atrial fibrillation, minimally invasive aortic valve surgery, robotic coronary revascularization, tricuspid valve surgery and selected adult congenital procedures.

The advantages to minimally invasive cardiac surgery over conventional surgical methods often include:

  • Minimally invasive and robotic mitral valve repair and replacement
  • Complex and redo mitral valve repair
  • Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement
  • Minimally invasive tricuspid valve surgery
  • Robotic coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)
  • Surgical Maze procedures for atrial fibrillation
  • Robotic-assisted hybrid atrial fibrillation ablation
  • Robotic and minimally invasive atrial septal defect closure
  • Selected adult congenital and complex cardiac procedures

Since the establishment of the program in 2021, St. Michael’s has continued to expand the scope of minimally invasive and robotic cardiac surgery.

Recent milestones include:

  • More than 250 minimally invasive cardiac surgeries completed by the end of 2024.
  • Introduction of robotic cardiac surgery at St. Michael’s Hospital, including Toronto’s first robotic mitral valve repair.
  • Toronto’s first robotic atrial septal defect closure.
  • The world’s first totally endoscopic robotic repair of cor triatriatum.
  • Toronto’s first robotic coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
  • Canada’s first robotic-assisted hybrid atrial fibrillation ablation, combining robotic surgical ablation with electrophysiology expertise in a comprehensive treatment strategy for complex AF.

Location

St. Michael’s Hospital

30 Bond St.,
Toronto, ON
M5B 1W8
The main entrance is located near Queen St. East and Victoria St. The Bond St. entrance is not open to the public at this time.

Suite 8-003E
Bond Wing

Contact

Clinic Administrative Assistant
Bethany Harrington

Phone: 416-864-3065
Fax: 416-864-3049

Health-care Providers

Referrals
Referral form