Florida’s First Pediatric Cardiac Robotic Surgery Performed at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital - Report - MDSpire
Coming Soon: Introducing MDSpire News. Learn more
Conexiant’s news site is now MDSpire News. Learn more

Florida’s First Pediatric Cardiac Robotic Surgery Performed at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital

The cardiovascular surgery team at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Heart Institute and Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute have successfully performed the first pediatric robotics-assisted cardiac surgery case, a first in Florida and one of few in the nation

  • By

  • September 3, 2026

  • 5 min

Share

Clinical Report: Florida’s First Pediatric Cardiac Robotic Surgery

Overview

Baptist Health and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital have performed Florida's first robotics-assisted atrial septal defect repair in a pediatric patient.

Background

Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect, affecting nearly 1% of newborns in the U.S. The introduction of robotic-assisted surgery offers a minimally invasive option for repairing conditions like atrial septal defects.

Data Highlights

No numerical data provided in the source material.

Key Findings

  • The first robotics-assisted atrial septal defect repair in a pediatric patient was performed in Florida.
  • The procedure was led by a multidisciplinary team from Baptist Health and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
  • Robotic-assisted surgery allows for smaller incisions and less postoperative discomfort compared to traditional open-heart surgery.
  • Collaboration between pediatric and adult cardiac specialists was crucial for the success of the procedure.
  • This milestone reflects the potential of combining advanced surgical techniques with specialized pediatric care.

Clinical Implications

Collaboration among specialized teams is essential for adapting advanced surgical methods to pediatric care.

Conclusion

The completion of Florida's first robotics-assisted pediatric cardiac surgery highlights the collaboration between institutions in pediatric cardiac care.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Baptist Health South Florida, Physician Resources, 2023 -- Robotic Repair of Rare Congenital Cardiac Defect in a 73-Year-Old
  2. Surgical Endoscopy, 2022 -- Challenges in Pediatric Robotic Surgery Management: Consensus Insights from the Italian Society of Pediatric and Neonatal Anesthesia and Intensive Care (SARNePI) and the Italian Society of Pediatric Surgery (SICP)
  3. Phoenix Children's Medical Connection, 2023 -- Enhancing Precision in Pediatric Neurosurgery: Advanced Robotics Integration with LITT
  4. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 2026 -- Robotic-Assisted Thoracic Surgery in Children with Congenital Lung Disease: Advancements, Challenges, and Future Directions
  5. Outpatient Management of Isolated Left-to-Right Shunt Lesions in Pediatric Patients: 2026 ACC Concise Clinical Guidance, JACC
  6. Early outcomes of a formal robotic congenital cardiac surgery program, PubMed
  7. Complications after percutaneous device closure of atrial septal defects in children: Prevalence, outcomes and associated factors, ScienceDirect
  8. Outpatient Management of Isolated Left-to-Right Shunt Lesions in Pediatric Patients: 2026 ACC Concise Clinical Guidance: A Report of the American College of Cardiology Solution Set Oversight Committee | JACC
  9. Early outcomes of a formal robotic congenital cardiac surgery program.
  10. Complications after percutaneous device closure of atrial septal defects in children: Prevalence, outcomes and associated factors - ScienceDirect

Original Source(s)

Florida’s First Pediatric Cardiac Robotic Surgery Performed at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital

  • by

  • September 3, 2026

Related Content

ASE Plenary: Progress, Priorities, and What’s Next

Efforts to align, sustain, and engage drove a year of growth for ASE.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) Associated with Recent Omicron COVID-19 Subtypes is Rare but Involves Severe Cardiovascular Features

When Bad Data Enters the Drug Pipeline

Federal prosecutors allege that a Florida physician and research staff fabricated clinical trial records that were submitted into database systems used to evaluate investigational drugs.