Heart & Valve Surgery

Coronary artery bypass surgery restores blood flow to the heart muscle that is otherwise blocked or partially blocked. During surgery a healthy vein from the leg, arm or chest can be used to "bypass" (or to go around) a blocked area of the coronary artery to improve blood flow to the heart muscle. Learn more about open heart surgery.

TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure to replace the aortic valve in patients who have severe aortic valve stenosis. TAVR may be an option for any patient with severe aortic valve stenosis or patients with previously implanted bioprosthetic valves that are no longer functioning well. Learn more.

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the standard surgical procedure for the treatment of advanced coronary artery disease. CABG surgery has been demonstrated to improve symptoms and, in many cases, prolong life. Radial artery grafts is an option that uses arteries in the arms as bypass grafts to treat open heart patients. Utilizing radial arteries offers an additional option to patients when veins in the legs cannot be used as bypass grafts for CABG. For instance, a radial artery is an alternative for patients who have had vein stripping, some obese patients, or patients with leg infections.

Heart valves ensure that blood flows in the correct direction within the heart. Surgery is required when one (or more) of the four valves are diseased, disrupting blood flow and causing the heart to not function properly. Valves are replaced or repaired through either open heart, or minimally invasive surgery.

This procedure is used to decrease surgical risks during coronary artery bypass surgery when restoring blood flow to the heart muscle. This technique uses a device to steady the heart muscle during surgery, allowing the heart to continue beating and avoiding the use of a heart-lung machine. Learn more on page 16.

TMR is a procedure that treat chronic chest pain by bringing oxygen rich blood to the heart using a laser. TMR may be done on its own, or in combination with heart bypass surgery.

A thoracic or abdominal aortic aneurysm is a bulge that is at risk of rupturing and, if large enough, may require surgery. A thoracic aortic aneurysm occurs in a weakened area of the aorta where blood passes though the chest cavity. An abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs where blood is passing through the abdomen.

Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) where the two upper chambers beat irregularly with the two lower chambers. This condition increases the risk of blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.

A procedure that combines the expertise of two doctors working together: a cardiothoracic surgeon and a cardiac electrophysiologist for patients with long-standing atrial fibrillation (AFib) − a type of irregular heartbeat and associated structural heart changes. The surgeon creates a tiny incision in the patient's upper abdomen using radiofrequency ablation (targeted heat to destroy tissue in problem areas of the heart to restore its regular rhythm) to create an area of ablated tissue. Later, an electrophysiologist using radiofrequency energy, ablates regions of the heart that cannot be reached from the outside and are best approached from inside the heart. The electrophysiologist also closes any gaps that may have developed and tests to confirm that all of the target lesions are intact. Read more on Mercy’s Convergent Hybrid procedure (PDF).

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a disease in which the heart muscle enlarges causing the ventricles to thicken and making it harder for the heart to pump blood.

An atrial septal defect (ASD) is a hole in the septum wall between the two upper chambers of the chest and is a condition you are born with (congenital).

An aortic dissection occurs when blood enters the inner layer wall of the aorta causing a tear and eventual separation. This may also lead to blood pooling inside the aortic walls.

A cardiac tumor is an abnormal growth that can be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign) that develop in the heart or heart valves.

A surgical procedure utilizing a robot in treating diseases of the lung and heart. Robot-assisted procedures are typically less invasive than traditional surgery and allows an improved stability and view for the surgeon.