Cardiac Surgery
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Overview
Experience world-class cardiac surgical care at St. Luke's. Our multidisciplinary approach blends cutting-edge technology with compassionate care to redefine heart health. From innovative techniques to rehabilitation programs, we provide solutions that have the best surgical outcomes so you can feel your best.
What we treat
Aortic arch conditions
The aortic arch is the top part of the aorta, the main artery that carries oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to the body. Aortic arch conditions are a group of disorders associated with structural problems in the arteries that block the blood vessels that branch off the aorta. Over time, this situation results in decreased blood flow to other areas of the body, including vital organs. Surgery is often needed to treat the underlying cause of aortic arch syndrome.
Aortic aneurysm
An aortic aneurysm occurs when part of the aorta, the body’s main artery, bulges or dilates, increasing the risk of rupture with potentially life-threatening consequences. This condition often arises without clear causes but it is associated with factors weakening the aortic wall, including high blood pressure, tobacco use and atherosclerosis. Symptoms typically remain unnoticed until significant enlargement or rupture occurs.
Aortic dissections
An aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition in which a tear in the inner layer of the body's main artery (aorta) causes the inner and middle layers of the aorta to split (dissect). Symptoms include sudden, severe chest or upper back pain that radiates to the neck or down the back, loss of consciousness, and shortness of breath. Aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition that can cause sudden death if it is not recognized and quickly treated. Treatment usually involves emergency surgery.
Atrial fibrillation (Afib)
Afib, short for atrial fibrillation, is the leading type of irregular heartbeat, significantly raising the risk of having a stroke. It usually comes from heart issues, with treatments focused on keeping the heart rate steady and lowering the risk of further problems.
Coronary artery disease (CAD)
CAD develops when the heart’s blood vessels, called coronary arteries, narrows or get blocked. This can reduce blood flow to your heart, making it harder for the heart to work properly.
Heart failure
Heart failure is a chronic, progressive condition that occurs when your heart doesn't pump enough blood for your body's needs. St. Luke's interventional and structural heart cardiologists, electrophysiologists and cardiac and cardiothoracic surgeons offer the latest surgical treatment options, including implantation of pacemakers and cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), coronary artery bypass and valve replacement.
Learn more about heart failure
Heart infections
Viruses, bacteria, fungi or other germs can invade your heart and cause it to become inflamed. The parts of your heart most often damaged by infection are the muscle (myocardium), the inner chambers and valves (endocarditis) and the outer membrane or sac (pericardium). Providers treat heart infections with medications, but you need surgery, such as heart valve surgery or heart transplant, for a severe infection.
Heart tumors
Heart tumors are abnormal growths of tissue in the heart. They may be classified as cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). Treatment begins with a thorough evaluation involving blood work and cardiac imaging to fully understand the tumor’s size, type and location. Next, a care team consisting of cardiologists, radiologists, oncologists and cardiac surgeons develops an individualized treatment plan, which may include surgery.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is an often undiagnosed condition that makes it hard for the heart to pump blood. Most people with the condition have no symptoms and experience no significant problems. For some, it can cause shortness of breath, chest pain or abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Treatment may include surgery, an implantable device, or medications to slow or regulate the heart rate.
Pericarditis
Pericarditis is when the pericardium, the thin membrane surrounding the heart, becomes inflamed. Usually, there's a small amount of fluid between the inner and outer layers of the pericardium. But, when inflamed, a large amount of fluid can accumulate, impairing the heart's ability to fill and function properly. If severe, a surgeon may perform a pericardiectomy to remove part or all of the pericardium.
Valvular heart disease
Valvular heart disease refers to any abnormality of the heart valves, which regulate blood flow through the heart and to the rest of the body. Treatment aims to manage symptoms, correct valve abnormalities and prevent future heart damage.
Treatments
Cardiac catheterization
The cardiac catheterization laboratory (also called the "cath lab") is a specialized invasive procedure area where many invasive cardiac procedures are performed, including coronary and peripheral angiograms, angioplasties/stents, transcatheter aortic valve replacement, balloon valvuloplasty and more. It involves inserting a catheter into a chamber or vessel of the heart.
Cardiac rehabilitation programs
St. Luke's Cardiac Rehabilitation is a medically supervised outpatient telemetry-monitored exercise and risk factor education program. The program is designed for patients recovering from heart disease, especially those who have recently suffered a heart attack, undergone cardiac surgery, cardiac stenting, congestive heart failure, or stable angina. We aim to help you resume your unrestricted activities and assist you with lifestyle changes. Research studies show patients who complete cardiac rehabilitation after a heart attack, serious cardiovascular illness, or cardiac surgery reduce their risk of dying.
Learn more about our cardiopulmonary and vascular rehabilitation
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)
Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) is a major surgical operation in which health care professionals take blood vessels from another part of the body to create new places for oxygen-rich blood to flow around, or "bypass," blocked or narrowed coronary arteries to the heart muscle.
Diagnostic cardiac imaging
Cardiac testing helps physicians understand the cause of your heart condition so they can develop the most effective plan to treat it. St. Luke's offers a full range of cardiac tests. Our cardiologists use heart tests to diagnose or monitor different heart conditions. Standard heart tests include blood tests, chest X-rays, electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), echocardiogram, cardiac catheterization and heart MRI, heart CT, stress tests, tilt tests and ambulatory rhythm monitoring tests.
Electrophysiology (EP)
EP is a specialized branch of cardiology dedicated to understanding the heart's electrical activity. By mapping and analyzing these electrical signals, we can pinpoint the source of arrhythmias and develop an effective treatment plan tailored to your needs. Following this plan helps prevent complications and improve your quality of life.
FEATURED TREATMENT
Mechanical circulatory support (MCS)
Get advanced care with St. Luke's MCS Program. MCS includes therapies like ventricular assist devices and total artificial hearts, providing life-saving support for severe heart failure. If you need advanced heart support, we can use these care options to give you the best outcome.
Minimally invasive cardiac surgery
Minimally invasive cardiac surgery at St. Luke's is used to treat many different heart conditions. In these procedures, the surgeon makes minor cuts, called incisions, in the chest to enter the heart by going between the ribs. The physician doesn't cut through the breastbone, as in traditional open-heart surgery. Compared with open-heart, this minimally invasive surgery often results in less pain and a quicker recovery for many people. Robot-assisted heart surgery and thoracoscopic surgery are types of minimally invasive heart surgery.
Pericutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), or coronary angioplasty, is a minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure to open narrowed or blocked artery sections, restoring blood flow to the heart. During the procedure, an interventional cardiologist places a permanent wire-meshed tube, called a stent, to keep the narrowed coronary arteries open. PCI uses a small hole in a peripheral artery (leg/arm) to gain access to the arterial system.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
An alternative to open-heart surgery, TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure to treat aortic valve narrowing, also called aortic stenosis. Instead of removing the old, damaged valve, a physician places the new valve inside the diseased valve. Also called transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), the procedure is done through tiny openings that leave the chest bones in place.
