HEART SURGICAL CARE

Traditional surgeries of the heart involve an incision through the sternum (or breastbone). The patient will be under general anesthesia for an hour or more depending on the type of surgery. These surgeries may require the patient’s blood to be circulated through a heart-lung machine. This both oxygenates and pumps the blood while the surgeon works on the heart.

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery is one of the most common surgeries performed on the heart today. When blood flow is limited to an area of the heart due to narrowed or blocked arteries from plaque build up (fatty deposits), build up, a surgeon can graft (or sew) a different blood vessel on the heart. These blood vessels can be taken from inside the chest, the leg or arms depending on the type of blockage and the size of the blood vessels. The placement of the additional blood vessels allows blood to bypass the blocked artery and restore blood flow to the heart muscle.

The heart has four valves that open and shut as the heart pumps. Sometimes valves in the heart do not close tightly and allow blood to “leak” backwards. Other times a valve may not open fully and can cause increased pressure in the heart. These problems with the valves can overwork the heart and begin to cause symptoms such as swelling, shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain. When the valve dysfunction is severe enough, surgery may be required to either repair or replace the affected valves.

Heart valve surgery is most commonly done as an open heart surgery with an incision through the sternum. Some valve problems can be corrected by removing excess tissue, reshaping the valve, or adding a supportive ring around it. Others need to be completely replaced using either a plastic or metal valve or a valve created from pig or cow tissue. (St. Jude/Edwards pictures) Your surgeon will help you decide which is the best option for you.

Ablations are procedures used to treat arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythms). Some ablations can be treated by a cardiologist without surgery. Others can be performed during heart surgery by the cardiac surgeon. Small incisions or cauterizations are made in the heart wall in order to interrupt abnormal electrical impulses. When these areas heal, scar tissue forms that redirects the electrical impulses to a more normal conduction rhythm.

A minimally invasive heart surgery is performed without a large incision through the breastbone. Instead, several small incisions are made through the side of the chest and special instruments are inserted to perform the procedure. With a minimally invasive approach, patients have fewer complications relating to bleeding and can typically return home and to regular activity sooner. Our team pioneered early minimally invasive valve procedures in the state of Illinois and continues to offer this type of surgery to patients who meet the criteria.

We also offer another form of minimally invasive valve procedure called a transcatheter valve replacement, commonly referred to as TAVR. This technique is offered to the population of patients who cannot undergo the more invasive surgical approach. It is performed in a hybrid operating room with a specialized group of health professionals including the cardiac surgeon, a cardiologist, and a team of specially trained nurses and technicians.

Similar to the minimally invasive approach, there is a lower risk of infection and bleeding associated with a smaller incision. The patient will experience less scarring and fewer days spent in the hospital, allowing for an earlier return to work and other activities.

Our integrated team includes a group of cardiologists and surgeons who specialize in treating advanced heart failure patients. Together, they see thousands of patients every year.Heart failure has numerous causes such as heart disease or high blood pressure and has the potential to severely damage the heart. As the disease progresses, it can evolve into advanced heart failure. Some advanced heart failure patients may benefit from treatment with a specialized heart pump.

These mechanical devices pump blood from the heart to the rest of the body and are considered lifesaving. They may be used as destination therapy, meaning they are left in permanently, or they may be used as a temporary support for the heart until it is strong enough to regain its function. Most of these devices are implanted within the body with a power supply outside of the body. Depending on the type of heart failure a patient has, they may require a pump for the left heart, right heart or even both. Any pump that is used may dramatically improve the quality of life for our patients. Your surgeon will discuss which device would be appropriate for you.

When all other options have been exhausted, someone with advanced heart failure may be a candidate for a heart transplant. Patients are typically placed on a waitlist for a heart to become available. Once a heart is available, the patient is brought into the hospital for the transplant procedure. During a transplant, a patient’s diseased heart is removed and a heart from a donor is transplanted into their chest. This procedure is considered a life-saving surgery that may allow patients to return to a more functional lifestyle.

A ventricular septal defect (VSD) can occur in adults after surgery or a heart attack. It is characterized by a hole in the wall between the lower chambers of the heart. In some instances, the hole may close on its own. In situations where it does not, surgery or a catheter-based approach may be necessary to close the hole.

The aorta is the largest artery in the body and pumps oxygen-rich blood from your heart to your other organs and limbs. There are a range of conditions that may cause the aorta to dilate (widen), which can result in an aortic aneurysm or tear (dissection). Some of these conditions include high blood pressure, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), genetic conditions, or connective tissue disorders. Your surgeon will discuss with you when surgery may be required to treat these conditions.