Heart and vascular surgery

If you have severe respiratory or cardiac failure, ECMO is a potentially lifesaving medical technique we can use to temporarily support you. It involves using a machine that pumps and oxygenates blood outside the body. This medical device provides necessary rest for the heart and lungs, as well as works to maintain crucial oxygenation and circulation.

Our heart surgeons use minimally invasive approaches whenever possible, aiming to reduce pain, shorten your hospital stay and expedite your recovery. Using tiny instruments and advanced imaging equipment, these procedures are performed through small incisions that are usually less than two inches in size.

Balloon valvoplasty

To conduct a balloon valvoplasty, we thread a catheter with a deflated balloon through a small incision in the upper thigh. Next, we guide the catheter into a vein to give us access to the narrowed valve. The balloon is then inflated to help widen the heart valve and restore your blood flow.

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)

CABG is a minimally invasive alternative to traditional surgical methods that can be performed while the heart is still beating. It enables us to reroute blood around a blocked or damaged artery without a heart-lung machine.

Heart valve repair and replacement

Our heart surgeons, interventional cardiologists and cardiovascular imaging specialists can address specific heart valve problems using various minimally invasive procedures.

Mitral valve surgery

This treatment option can be used to address mitral valve prolapse, regurgitation and stenosis. To access the mitral valve and treat your condition, our surgeons will make a small incision on your side.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) surgery

If you have aortic valve stenosis and are unable to have traditional cardiac surgery, we can perform a TAVR procedure. One of our heart surgeons will insert a catheter into a small incision in the upper thigh or chest and position it near the valve. We pass a replacement valve through the catheter, placing the new valve over the damaged one.

Implantable device placement

To address atrial fibrillation (AFib), we can implant a small device in the left atrial appendage (LAA). This minimally invasive approach works to help prevent blood clots, which could lead to a stroke if left untreated.

We have the expertise to treat advanced heart conditions with traditional surgical methods, such as:

• Maze procedure — Creates a series of controlled scar lines within the heart's atria, redirecting the electrical impulses and restoring normal rhythm in a very fast heartbeat
• Repair and replacement of heart valves — Treatment to correct previous valve procedures
• Septal myectomy — Treats hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by removing thickened heart tissue
• Thoracic aortic aneurysm repair — Repairs an aneurysm in the thoracic aorta, which supplies blood to the heart

Our skilled vascular specialists are capable of surgically correcting a wide variety of issues affecting the blood vessels, including:

• Aneurysms
• Blood clots
• Carotid artery disease
• Critical limb ischemia
• Peripheral artery disease
• Varicose veins
• Vascular malformations

Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

This procedure is used to repair a weak spot in the lower abdominal section of the aorta — a major heart artery. Our surgeons place a mesh tube, known as a stent graft, inside your artery to hold it open and prevent it from bursting. Whenever possible, we use an endovascular, catheter-based approach because it can contribute to less pain, a shorter hospital stay and a quicker recovery.

Endarterectomy

When a plaque buildup inside an artery reduces or stops blood flow, we use an endarterectomy to remove it. This procedure can restore blood flow in your carotid arteries, which can lower your stroke risk.

Radiofrequency ablation

Radiofrequency ablation, a type of laser vein treatment, sends a high-intensity, heat-producing light through a catheter to the affected vein. To conduct this procedure, we make a small puncture near the varicose vein and use a laser to heat it. This closes off the vein and prevents blood from flowing through it. You will receive a local anesthetic, so you feel as little pain as possible during the procedure. Radiofrequency ablation may benefit you by contributing to less postsurgical discomfort and minimal scarring.

Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR)

We can use minimally invasive TCAR to treat carotid artery blockages and blood flow problems, helping to prevent a stroke. During this procedure, your surgeon will make a small incision above the collarbone and place a catheter inside the blocked artery. The catheter is connected to a machine that temporarily diverts blood away from the brain, filtering and returning it through a second tube in the thigh. This rerouting process helps prevent a blood clot or piece of plaque from traveling to the brain while we're operating on you.

Vascular bypass

Our vascular surgeons are able to restore blood flow in a blocked artery by taking a vein from another area of your body — called a graft — and using it to reroute blood around the blockage. To do this, we can attach the graft above and below the blockage, allowing blood to bypass it.

After undergoing heart surgery, you will be closely monitored in our cardiac surgical stepdown unit. We use the latest equipment during this time, giving you and your family access to the best possible care.

Our heart surgeons, cardiologists, cardiac nurses and rehabilitation specialists work together to give you complete care and personal attention. We make your health, safety and comfort our main priorities.

You can register online for your procedure, helping you save time on the day of your visit. For more information, please call our valve clinic coordinator at (603) 433-4866.