Stephen Smith, a 62-year-old civil engineer from Boca Raton, has always been a busy, project-oriented person. “I stay extremely busy. It’s just kind of in my DNA,” he explains.

With a wife, two grown children and a grandchild on the way, his life has always been full. His health was something he rarely worried about. “My health has been good my whole life. I’ve really never had any major issues,” Mr. Smith says.

So when his annual physical led to a startling discovery, he was in shock. Following bloodwork that showed very high cholesterol levels, Mr. Smith underwent a stress test. The results were not favorable.

A Completely Blocked Artery

His cardiologist sent him for a heart catheterization, a procedure that revealed a life-threatening condition: a 100-percent blockage in his left anterior descending (LAD) artery.

As Bradley Taylor, M.D., chief of cardiac surgery for the North Region and chief of quality and outcomes for Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care, explains, “The LAD is the artery that runs on the surface of your heart and supplies blood to about a third of the muscle mass of the heart. If that artery becomes totally blocked, a large portion of the heart has little to no blood flow.”

Mr. Smith was stunned. While there was some family history of heart disease, the diagnosis was completely unexpected. “I had a 100-percent blocked LAD, and I was in shock, to be honest,” he recalls. “I’ve never complained or had any issues or felt anything to even know that I had a problem.”

The Decision for a Modern Solution

The path forward required a significant decision. Dr. Taylor notes that all patients are evaluated by a team of cardiologists and surgeons to determine the best treatment. For Mr. Smith, attempting to place a stent across a complete blockage was not the best option. Instead, he was offered a minimally invasive robotic-assisted coronary artery bypass graft.

“He said he’d like for me to get it done as soon as possible,” Mr. Smith remembers of his physician’s advice. The goal was clear: Because he was still relatively young at age 62, the surgery “would help me live a full life.”

Mr. Smith was referred to Dr. Taylor at Lynn Heart and Vascular Institute, a part of Baptist Health. The connection was immediate. “He had a great bedside manner, but also very direct,” Mr. Smith says. “He made me feel so comfortable. He’s so confident in what he does and how he does it.”

Dr. Taylor, who has performed nearly 500 robotic-assisted cardiac operations over 20 years, detailed the procedure. Instead of the traditional method that involves dividing the breastbone, this advanced surgery uses a surgical robot.

“We use a surgical robot to take the artery from inside the chest,” Dr. Taylor explains. “We then make a small incision — about two to three centimeters — between the ribs.” Through this small opening, surgeons connect a healthy artery to the blocked one, restoring vital blood flow.

“He showed me exactly what was going on inside my body,” Mr. Smith recalls. “They had a very advanced but simple procedure to get this done. It enabled this to be done robotically with a minimum amount of downtime.”

An Amazing Surgery and a Rapid Recovery

The surgery was a success. Mr. Smith’s experience at Lynn Heart and Vascular Institute was exceptional from start to finish. “The Lynn Heart and Vascular Institute has been an amazing place,” he says. “I felt like I was being treated like a king.”

His recovery was just as remarkable. Following his surgery, which was on a Monday, he spent a short time in the ICU. “The staff in ICU was amazing. They were fabulous,” he notes. By Thursday at noon, just a few days after his procedure, he walked out of the hospital and went home.

“I wanted to recover as fast as I can, and that’s exactly what I did,” he says. “I was walking two to three miles a day in the first couple of days. Within a week, I felt like I could do anything I was doing before.”

This rapid return to normal life is a key benefit of the robotic approach. “Patients recover faster because there’s less of a physiologic hit from smaller incisions,” Dr. Taylor explains. While most patients are home in three to five days, Mr. Smith was determined to heal quickly.

He contrasts his experience with that of others who have undergone traditional open-heart surgery. “I know people that have had traditional open-heart surgery, and their recovery time was much, much longer,” he says. “I was very fortunate. It was just a matter of a few days, and I was up and walking out of the hospital.”

A Future Filled with Gratitude

Today, Mr. Smith feels fantastic. The surgery provided a permanent repair that will keep his heart healthy for years to come. The procedure uses the left internal mammary artery, which Dr. Taylor notes has a known survival advantage backed by over 40 years of data.

Reflecting on his journey, Mr. Smith is filled with gratitude. “I would 100% recommend Dr. Bradley Taylor and Lynn Heart and Vascular Institute,” he states. “My entire experience at Baptist Health was very positive.”

His advice to others facing a similar diagnosis is simple and direct: “Get it done and don’t hesitate.”

For Dr. Taylor, outcomes like Mr. Smith’s are the most meaningful part of his work. “The biggest reward is being able to return someone back to their family,” he says. “Taking care of a significant problem for someone who has an important role in this world is incredibly meaningful.”