Health City Cayman Islands successfully performed its inaugural robotic-assisted heart surgeries, marking a major advancement in cardiac healthcare for the Cayman Islands and the broader Caribbean region.
These pioneering procedures were conducted by Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil, who serves as the Head of Cardiac Surgery and Clinical Director at Health City, outlines a press release from the organization.
This accomplishment positions the Cayman Islands among a select group of global centers capable of delivering fully robotic cardiac surgical interventions.
Reportedly, the initiation of this cutting-edge program followed an intensive training phase and a collaborative clinical partnership with Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital, renowned as one of the world’s leading high-volume robotic cardiac surgery centers. Throughout this period, Health City’s surgical team received mentorship from Dr. Douglas Murphy, Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital. Dr. Murphy is recognized globally as a pioneer in the field, having performed over 4,000 robotic mitral valve surgeries.
While Dr. Murphy continues to provide expert oversight as a supervisory mentor, the actual surgeries are performed by Dr. Binoy and the dedicated cardiac team at Health City. According to Health City, this collaboration ensures that residents of the Cayman Islands and the wider Caribbean can access world-class, minimally invasive cardiac procedures locally, eliminating the need for lengthy travel abroad.
Robotic cardiac surgery involves operating through small incisions with advanced robotic instruments, resulting in less trauma to the body and quicker recovery times compared to traditional open-heart procedures.
“One of the greatest advantages of robotic cardiac surgery is how quickly patients recover compared to traditional open-heart procedures,” Dr. Murphy explained.“In our program at Emory, most patients are discharged within 48 hours, and many return to normal daily activities within three weeks, compared with two to three months for conventional cardiac surgery.
He further emphasized the safety benefits, stating,“Robotic mitral valve repair also carries a very low risk of stroke, often under 0.5% compared with 2–3% for traditional open surgery, and mortality rates remain well below 0.5% in high-volume robotic centers. These results reflect the reduced trauma and enhanced surgical precision that robotic technology provides.”
Dr. Binoy expressed pride in this achievement, noting its significance for the region:“Performing these surgeries here in Cayman is a transformational moment. Patients no longer need to travel overseas for advanced cardiac procedures that can now be safely completed robotically on the island. The reduced recovery time, lower complication rates and overall patient experience are extraordinary. We are proud to bring this level of care to the Cayman Islands.”
The robotic cardiac program at Health City is set to expand its offerings, including procedures such as cardiac valve repair and replacement, intracardiac tumor removal, and additional robotic interventions as the program develops. This approach aims to reduce hospital stays, speed up recovery, and improve clinical outcomes, all within the local healthcare setting.
As per the release,” This development reinforces Health City Cayman Islands as a center of excellence for advanced heart care, strengthens the national health system’s capability, and positions the Cayman Islands as a leader in robotic surgery in the Caribbean.”
The earliest known Cardiac surgery centers in the Caribbean date back to Cuba in 1951, according to the National Library of Medicine.
