Cardiac Surgery

University Hospital has provided a Cardiac Surgery Program since 1962. It has grown steadily since that time. There are now three full time faculty members, two adult surgeons and one pediatric surgeon.

For decades, it has been inevitable: repairing the heart meant opening the chest, stopping the heart and putting the patient on a heart/lung bypass machine. Now, at University Hospital, cardiac surgeons offer minimally invasive heart procedures, which dramatically reduce the risks, recovery time and discomfort associated with heart surgery.

New Approach to Valve Repair

Minimally invasive valvular surgery is a sophisticated procedure using a voice-activated thoroscope through a small (2 1/2 inch) incision and eliminates the need to open the breastbone. This is an aesthetically pleasing approach to heart surgery. It doesn't get any better for patients than the minimally invasive procedure. They feel more comfortable after surgery and go home faster. Recuperation from conventional valve surgery is 6 to 8 weeks, and the patient is sore and uncomfortable. With the minimally invasive approach, patients are back on their feet in a couple of weeks.

"Beating Heart" Surgery

Cardiothoracic surgeon Charles Lutz MD performs single coronary artery bypass surgery without stopping the patient's heart. Instead, a new device known as the Medtronic Octopus® Stabilizer stabilizes the beating heart while Dr. Lutz performs the bypass. "It's known as 'beating heart' or 'off-pump' bypass, and it's much less traumatic to the patient," explains Dr. Lutz. Dr. Lutz estimates that about 20 percent of U.S. cardiac surgeons are using this approach. "More and more data show it's better. Patients go home sooner - in three to four days, as opposed to six or seven days. They lose less blood, and have a lower risk of stroke and renal failure."

Minimally Invasive Coronary Bypass Surgery

Heart surgeons at University Hospital have started to perform a newer type of minimally invasive surgery called Endoscopic A-traumatic Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting. The technique utilizes endoscopic approaches to harvest internal mammary arteries and a mini-chest incision for performing the coronary bypass operation. This technique offers patients two benefits: (1) the "off-pump bypass" procedure which is less traumatic to the heart; and (2) the mini-chest incision, which allows for a quicker recuperation period.

Minimally invasive heart surgery is not for every patient. To determine if you are a candidate, talk to your physician or call Health Connections at 800-464-8668 to speak to the Department of Surgery.

Program Faculty

Dr. Greg Fink
Associate Professor
Chief, Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Charles Lutz
Assistant Professor