Services

Services and Treatments

Our cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons are experienced in procedures that treat diseases of the heart and lungs, including:

Cardiac Surgery

• Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)
• Valve surgery (aortic, mitral, tricuspid)
• Hybrid maze procedure
• Thoracic aortic aneurysm

Thoracic Surgery

• Lung resection
• Lung biopsy
• Mediastinoscopy
• Lung pleurodesis
• Lung decortication
• Bleb resection/stapling
• Pericardial window
• Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)
• VATS sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis (sweaty palm disease)

Conditions Treated

Our practice specializes in treating diseases of the heart and lungs, including:

• Blocked arteries
•  Valve disease
• Atrial fibrillation
• Thoracic aortic aneurysm
•  Lung conditions/disease

Cardiac Surgery

• Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)
  This surgery reroutes, or bypasses, blood around clogged arteries to improve blood flow and oxygen to the heart.
  • Traditional
    In traditional bypass surgery, your surgeon makes an incision down the center of your sternum, or breastbone, to get direct access to your heart. You are connected to a heart-lung bypass machine, which allows for the circulation of blood throughout the body during surgery. Your heart is stopped, and the surgeon then performs the bypass procedure. After surgery, the surgeon closes the breastbone with special sternal wires and the chest with special internal or traditional external stitches.
  • Off-Pump
    Off-pump surgery allows surgeons to perform surgery on your heart while it is still beating. Your surgeon uses advanced operating equipment to stabilize portions of the heart and to bypass the blocked artery in a highly controlled operative environment. Meanwhile, the rest of the heart keeps pumping and circulating blood to the body.
  • Endoscopic Vein Harvesting
    Endoscopic vein harvesting is a minimally invasive procedure to remove the saphenous vein (which is used as a bypass graft) from the leg.

• Valve Surgery (Aortic, Mitral, Tricuspid)
  • Valve Repair
    Valve repair is the mending of your own valve to help it work better. A man-made ring may be sewn around the opening of the valve to tighten it. Other parts of the valve may be cut, shortened, separated or strengthened to help the valve open and close better.
  • Valve Replacement
    Valve replacement is the surgical replacement of a damaged valve due to stenosis (when the valve does not open fully) or insufficiency, also called regurgitation (when the valve does not close tightly). Four different types of valve replacement may be done depending on patient’s age, lifestyle, health and life expectancy.
• Hybrid Maze Procedure
  The hybrid maze procedure is a minimally invasive surgical intervention that cures atrial fibrillation by interrupting the circular electrical patterns responsible for this arrhythmia. The procedure is performed in two stages. A cardiac surgeon performs the first stage, and a specially trained cardiologist, known as an electrophysiologist, performs the second stage. This procedure is less invasive than traditional atrial fibrillation procedures and offers you a shorter recovery time.
• Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
  The part of your aorta that runs through the chest is called the thoracic aorta. When a weak area of the thoracic aorta expands or bulges, it is called a thoracic aortic aneurysm. Thoracic aortic aneurysms are serious health risks, because they can burst or rupture. Thoracic aortic aneurysms can be treated in a number of ways, depending on the severity of the aneurysm. If it is small and not causing symptoms, your physician might recommend “watchful waiting.” This means that you will be routinely monitored for changes in your aneurysm. If your aneurysm is larger and causing symptoms, surgery may be needed.

Thoracic Surgery

• Lung Resection
  Lung resection is surgery to repair or remove a portion of the lung.
• Lung Biopsy
  A lung biopsy involves the removal of a small portion of the lung to check for disease.
• Mediastinoscopy
  In a mediastinoscopy, an instrument is inserted into the neck to help your surgeon better see the structure of the lungs.
• Lung Pleurodesis
  Lung pleurodesisis is a procedure done to adhere the membranes around the lung together to prevent the buildup of fluid between tissue.
• Lung Decortication
  Lung decortication is a surgical peeling of the lining of the lung to improve lung expansion.
• Bleb Resection/Stapling
  Bleb resection/stapling involves the stapling of a bubble on the lung surface to prevent leakage and improve lung function.
• Pericardial Window
  A pericardial window is an opening made between the ribs to drain fluid that has accumulated around the heart.
• Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS)
  VATS is surgery on the lungs that is performed with the aid of an endoscope.
• VATS Sympathectomy for Hyperhidrosis (Sweaty Palm Disease)
  During a thoracoscopic sympathectomy, the surgeon severs and seals the right-hand side of the sympathetic nerve to alleviate excessive sweating.