Heart and vascular surgery

Depending on your current condition and health needs, your cardiovascular specialist can advise on which surgery is the right choice for you. We offer the following procedures:

• Alcohol septal ablation for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Catheter-based closure of atrial septal defects
• Catheter-based closure of valve leaks in high-risk or inoperable patients
• Catheter-based closure of ventricular septal defects
• Hybrid approaches for coronary and valvular heart diseases
• Mitral and aortic valvuloplasty
• Paravalvular leak repair
• Percutaneous closure of:
  • Atrial septal defect (ASD)
  • Patent foramen ovale (PFO)
  • Ventricular septal defect
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
• Transcatheter mitral valve repair/replacement (TMVR)

Minimally invasive heart surgery

Minimally invasive surgery uses much smaller and less invasive incisions. This enables vascular surgeons to potentially minimize scarring and pain. Our cardiothoracic surgeons use minimally invasive techniques for a variety of procedures, such as:

• Coronary artery bypass (unblocking or widening arteries to restore blood flow to the heart)
• Endograft (inserting a hollow tube into the thoracic aorta to alleviate blood pressure)
• Pacemaker implantation (inserting a small electrical device to regulate heart rhythms)
• Stent grafting (inserting a self-expanding stent frame designed to seal vessel walls and prevent blood leaks)

There are many potential benefits to minimally invasive procedures, including:

• Faster recovery time
• Faster return to activity or work
• Reduced pain
• Shorter hospital stay

Our experienced team of cardiothoracic surgeons will evaluate your condition and assess the surgical benefits and risks to determine the best treatment option.

Catheter-based valve replacement is a less invasive alternative to traditional open heart surgery. Catheter-based valve replacement has many potential benefits, including reduced pain, a shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery time.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)

If you are intermediate or considered high risk for traditional surgery, another option is transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). During this minimally invasive procedure, your failing aortic valve is replaced using a catheter and imaging technology.

Heart arrhythmia management

If you need heart arrhythmia treatment, we offer a variety of surgical procedures, including:

• Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation
• Pacemaker implantation
• Radiofrequency ablation

A specialized team of cardiothoracic surgeons and interventional cardiologists work together to build your comprehensive and customized treatment plan. Your cardiologist will oversee your general heart health, while an extensively trained structural heart specialist will focus on specific internal heart issues.

Other medical professionals who may assist in treatment include:

• Cardiovascular surgeons
• Electrophysiologists
• Vascular surgeons

For more information about our treatment options for structural heart disease, call (512) 407-7000 or (512) 477-2211.