AbstractBackgroundCardiac surgery, traditionally conducted via median sternotomy, has been recently forwarded by progressively advanced technology facilitating sternal‐sparing minimally invasive, access to the heart. Robotic systems, comprised of miniaturized surgical instruments mounted on long thin shafts with multiple degrees of range of motion coupled with a dual camera endoscope providing true three‐dimentional high‐magnification visualization have greatly propelled this field.MethodsThe robotic system and the literature base pertaining to robotic cardiac surgery is reviewed in depth.ResultsRobotic cardiac surgical procedures have been performed to repair and replace the mitral valve, bypass coronary arteries, close atrial septal defects, implant left ventricular pacing leads, and resect intracardiac tumors.ConclusionsAs minimally invasive and robotic surgical technology advances, so proceeds the spectrum of potential applications for robotic cardiac surgery. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.