February is American Heart Month, a time to focus on heart health and the importance of early detection. At Lee Health, we’re committed to delivering advanced, leading-edge care right here in Southwest Florida.
In January, we celebrated the opening of the Advanced Heart Failure Clinic at the Lee Health Heart Institute. This clinic provides advanced therapies that previously required patients to travel outside our region for care.
We also recently became the first health system in our region to offer robotic-assisted mitral valve repair using the state-of-the-art da Vinci surgical robot. While this procedure is new to our area, it is performed by a robotic cardiac surgery team with decades of combined experience across multiple generations of robotic technology.
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The mitral valve plays a critical role in regulating blood flow through the heart. When the valve leaks or becomes stiff, blood can flow backward into the lungs, putting strain on the heart and potentially leading to serious complications. Mitral valve disease is often first detected as a heart murmur and confirmed through imaging. However, many patients experience few or no symptoms until the condition becomes advanced.
Traditionally, mitral valve repair required open-heart surgery with a full sternotomy and a lengthy recovery. Robotic-assisted repair, by contrast, allows surgeons to perform complex procedures through small incisions with greater precision and less trauma. This approach results in less pain, fewer complications, and a faster return to normal activity.
“All of it is done without spreading the rib or cutting the bone,” said Dr. Daniel O’Hair, chief physician executive for the Lee Health Heart Institute. “It’s more like having your appendix removed than undergoing traditional open-heart surgery.”
Early detection and treatment are critical. Left untreated, severe mitral valve disease can progress to heart failure or increase the risk of stroke. When successfully repaired, patients can expect a normal life expectancy, avoid long-term complications, and remain active well into their later years.
A heart surgeon will determine whether robotic-assisted mitral valve repair is the right option for each patient. While robotic surgery can be used for both mitral valve repair and replacement, repair is preferred whenever feasible and is usually highly successful. The surgical approach depends on the severity and progression of the valve disease.
As president and CEO of Lee Health, I am very proud of the ways we continue to innovate and deliver the highest-quality care for our community.
“This is an incredible breakthrough and a true game-changer for the Southwest Florida community,” Dr. O’Hair said. “Robotic-assisted mitral valve repair enables patients to receive the most advanced heart care close to home while strengthening the Lee Health Heart Institute’s reputation as a national destination for leading-edge cardiovascular care.”
Larry Antonucci, M.D., MBA is the president & CEO of Lee Health, Southwest Florida’s major destination for health care offering acute care, emergency care, rehabilitation and diagnostic services, health and wellness education, and community outreach and advocacy programs. Visit LeeHealth.org to learn more.
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