Heart Surgeons Perform World’s First Combined Robotic AVR and CABG

Surgeons at the West Virginia University Heart and Vascular Institute performed the world’s first combined robotic aortic valve replacement (AVR) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) through a single small incision. The groundbreaking procedure, led by Dr. Vinay Badhwar, was successfully carried out on 73-year-old Poppy McGee, who had a history of stroke and brain surgery. The innovation could pave the way for more robotic heart surgeries, offering a less invasive option for patients with both valve and coronary artery disease. McGee’s recovery has been rapid, and she was able to spend Thanksgiving with her family.