Heart and vascular surgery

Whether you require heart surgery to treat an affected valve or narrowed arteries, our cardiac care specialists understand that treatment plans are never one-size-fits-all. We ensure that you receive only the best possible option for your unique condition.

From common to complex conditions, heart valve surgery can repair or replace damaged valves to restore normal heart function. Our specialists administer a host of advanced treatments, including:

• Aortic homograft
• Aortic root enlargement
• Ross procedure
• Sutureless aortic valve replacement
• Stentless aortic valve replacement
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
• Valve repair and replacements, including the aortic, mitral and tricuspid valves

If you have blocked or damaged coronary arteries, a coronary artery bypass (CABG) could be the most effective option to restore blood flow to the heart. This procedure uses blood vessels from other parts of the body to make a new route for blood to flow around blocked coronary arteries.

Our heart surgeons are able to perform traditional open-heart surgery, as well as other techniques, for heart bypass surgery, including:

• Arrested heart coronary bypass — performed while the heart is stopped and connected to a heart-lung machine
• Minimally invasive bypass — allows bypass surgery on the heart through small incisions without separating the breastbone (sternum)
• Off-pump bypass — performed without a heart-lung machine
• On-pump beating heart bypass — performed on the heart while it is beating without the use of a heart-lung machine, and neither the heart nor the lungs will be stopped during surgery

We use advanced diagnostic technology to track the development of plaque inside your arteries, so we can provide treatment before an intervention is necessary. However, if you are experiencing complications such as vascular disease and require a procedure, our vascular surgeons can treat most conditions through both interventional and minimally invasive vascular surgery, including:

• Atherectomy — minimally invasive procedure where a catheter is inserted into a blocked artery, allowing your surgeon to remove plaque from within the vessels
• Coronary angioplasty — minimally invasive procedure that involves opening the narrowed artery with a catheter to allow normal blood flow back to the heart
• Balloon angioplasty — a type of angioplasty that increases blood flow to the heart through a balloon that is inflated to push plaque aside
• Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) — minimally invasive procedure where special instruments are threaded through a catheter to an aneurysm, where a stent and graft are placed to support the aneurysm
• Open carotid and femoral endarterectomy — surgical procedure performed on moderate to severe blockages of the carotid and femoral arteries where plaque is removed from their inner linings
• Thrombectomy — surgical procedure that removes blood clots in order to restore proper blood flow and prevent complications such as pulmonary embolism and stroke

Cardiovascular surgery can be a major event, so we want you to have a full understanding of what to expect both before and after surgery.

First, before surgery you will need to undergo a series of tests and exams to ensure there are no potential complications. To this end, certain medications, including blood thinners, ACE inhibitors and anti-inflammatories, may need to be paused for a week before surgery.

Once surgery has been successfully completed, our care team will work closely with your cardiologist and primary care physician to help you get back to your life as quickly and safely as possible.

If you need any additional rehabilitation services, our team works with you to determine what is best for your condition, including what medications you may need as well as whether you require oxygen or other medical devices. We also go over the most important guidelines and restrictions you will need to follow for optimal recovery.

Our doctors will provide you with more detailed information, depending on your situation, and are here to answer any questions about what to expect before, during and after surgery.