Video

http://www.or-live.com/MemorialCare/1791 Heart Disease: As part of a live internet broadcast, Daniel Bethencourt, M.D., medical director of cardiac surgery, Memorial Heart and Vascular Institute (MHVI) at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, will perform mitral valve repair surgery using the da Vinci® S Surgical System. The procedure will be Webcast Aug. 22, at 4 p.m. PDT. "Using the da Vinci, the repair can be performed through four small incisions instead of open heart surgery," says Dr. Bethencourt. "There's less loss of blood, a reduced chance of infection and patients enjoy a shorter recovery." The da Vinci Surgical System allows for wrist movements, greater than humanly possible – more than 360 degrees, to aid Dr. Bethencourt remediate the valve. Another benefit the da Vinci offers is 3-D vision, which is magnified by more than 10 times. "The combination of the 3-D imaging and the magnification of the surgical field allow a better view of the valve and the repair procedure," says Dr. Bethencourt. "The view of the inside of the heart is tremendous." Rex Winters, M.D., MHVI director of interventional cardiology at Long Beach Memorial, will provide narration and communication with Dr. Bethencourt during the operation. The web cast will originate Live from MHVI surgical suites and will provide an in-depth view of the inner workings of the human heart and specifically, the repair procedure. MHVI's roster of more than 40 nationally recognized cardiologists, pathologists, anesthesiologists and cardiac surgeons perform more than 600 open heart surgeries annually. The facility is California's newest with three state-of-the-art operating rooms and more than 65,000 square feet devoted specifically to cardiovascular care. MHVI is part of Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and Miller Children's Hospital, the second largest not-for-profit, community-based hospital west of the Mississippi. The 54-acre campus houses 741 beds, employs more than 5,200 people and has more than 800 volunteers. da Vinci® is a registered trademark of Intuitive Surgical, Inc