Your Surgery

Most patients undergoing heart surgery are admitted to the hospital the same day as the surgery. This requires that blood work, xray, and anesthesia evaluation take place prior to admission. This is usually is done a week or so before surgery, scheduled at the patients convenience.

The morning of the surgery after the patient checks in, he is given medication to help relax. The anesthiologist then places special monitoring lines in arteries and veins. After this is completed the patient is taken to the operating room and goes to sleep.

The surgery then takes place and afterwards the patient is taken to the intensive care unit. At this point in time the patient is usually still asleep and on the ventilator (breathing machine). After the patient awakens the ventilator is discontinued.

The length of stay depends on the procedure completed, the health of the patient prior to surgery, and the support at home. Some people require inpatient rehabilitation. Temporary restrictions include no driving automobiles for at least three weeks and no heavy lifting for six to eight weeks but all is dependent on the procedure and individual patient.

Surgical Procedures Performed

Including valve replacement and repair and minimally invasive and robotic surgery. Below please find a list of most procedures performed and follow the link to learn more about that particular procedure.

Coronary Artery Surgery

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) or "Bypass Surgery"
Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (OPCAB)
Robotic-assisted coronary bypass grafting
- Hybrid surgery: combining robotic-assisted coronary bypass with stenting of other coronary arteries
Coronary Angioplasty

Aortic Valve Surgery

Aortic Valve Replacement
- Bioprosthetic valve (tissue: pig or cow)
- Mechanical valve
- Minimally Invasive approach: mini-sternotomy
Valve Sparing Surgery
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

Mitral Valve Surgery

Mitral Valve Repair
- Robotic-assisted mitral valve repair
Mitral Valve Replacement
- Bioprosthetic valve (tissue: pig or cow)
- Mechanical valve
Percutaneous Balloon Valvuloplasty

Tricuspid Valve Surgery

Tricuspid Valve Repair
Tricuspid Valve Replacement

Congestive Heart Failure Surgery

Ventricular Assist Device (VAD)
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) (also used for respiratory failure)
Minimally Invasive Left Ventricular Pacemaker Lead Insertion in conjunction with Biventricular Pacing

Aneurysm Surgery

Repair of ascending, arch, or descending aortic aneurysm
Repair of aortic dissection
Endovascular (stent graft) repair of arch or descending aneurysm (performed with vascular surgeons)

Atrial Fibrillation Surgery

Left atrial or bi-atrial modified cryomaze procedure
Minimally invasive or traditional sternotomy approach
Stand alone or in conjunction with other procedure