Cardiac Surgery Treatments & Services
Advanced Open and Minimally Invasive Therapies
The Division of Cardiac Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center offers a variety of advanced surgical techniques to preserve, regain and improve your heart health.
Commitment to Quality
The Division of Cardiac Surgery has continually received a 3-star quality rating for isolated coronary bypass grafting from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Only 12 to 15 percent of hospitals nationwide receive this 3-star rating, the highest category of quality in selected surgical programs.
Clinical Services
The CVI has gained a national and international reputation for innovation and expertise in non-invasive cardiac imaging, including:
- Cardiac MRI
- Echocardiography
- Nuclear medicine
We are a pioneer in developing cardiac Magnetic Resonance techniques for coronary artery imaging, and for expert assessment of patient cardiomyopathies, pericardial disease and congenital (structural) heart diseases.
The multidisciplinary team within BIDMC's Aortic Center has achieved excellent outcomes in complex aortic surgeries. Our specialists perform a wide array of procedures, including:
- Surgical repair of aortic aneurysms
- Aortic reconstruction
- Thoracic aortic root surgery
- Stentless aortic valve replacement
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is open heart surgery, often the preferred treatment for multiple blocked coronary arteries, or when blockages are not suitable for angioplasty or stenting.
CVI surgeons perform more than 450 CABG surgeries per year. Surgeons use endoscopic vein harvest — removal of a portion of vein from inside the leg through small incisions — in more than 98 percent of procedures. These veins are used to route blood flow around your narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. This approach significantly decreases complications and infection.
CABG can improve blood flow to the heart, relieve chest pain and possibly prevent a heart attack. Tight control of blood sugar following surgery results in low rates of infection of the breastbone (sternum).
What to Expect
CABG surgery involves exposing the heart through either the breastbone or ribs. The operation typically includes the use of a heart-lung machine, which takes blood from the heart, adds oxygen, and then pumps it back into the body.
After grafts using your harvested veins are sewn into place in the blocked arteries, the heart-lung machine is turned off. The breastbone is wired together and the chest is closed. You are under general anesthesia during the operation. CABG surgery takes four to five hours.
Off-Pump and Hybrid Approaches
The CVI offers expertise in off-pump beating heart surgery to patients at extremely high risk for conventional bypass because of heavily calcified aortas or advanced renal or pulmonary disease. Off-pump beating heart surgery uses techniques to stabilize the heart so that it is not necessary to use a heart-lung machine. Off-pump beating heart surgery can also be performed as part of a tailored approach (hybrid procedures), in which patients undergo minimally invasive off-pump surgery in conjunction with stenting.
When patients' hearts have become severely weakened by advanced heart failure, our cardiac surgeons provide temporary and durable support to restore the heart's pumping capabilities, as well as cardiac transplantation. Our Advanced Heart Failure Program provide patients with a comprehensive range of medical and surgical treatments.
Treatments
Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs)
Our cardiac surgery team has particular expertise in high-risk surgeries with ventricular assist backup. VADs are mechanical devices that take over the pumping function of the heart's ventricles to help the failing heart pump blood throughout the body on a short-term or long-term basis. VADs are implanted next to the heart and maintain blood flow consistent with a healthy heart.
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)
The ECMO support devices is used to treat advanced left ventricular heart failure by bringing in oxygen and removing carbon dioxide from the patient's blood.
Advanced Heart Failure Program
Heart Transplant
The BILH Heart Transplant Program at BIDMC brings together an experienced team of experts in all aspects of heart transplantation. Surgical Director Masashi Kai, MD, has performed over 300 heart transplants with outstanding results over the last decade. Dr. Kai works closely with the entire group of Heart Failure and Transplant Specialists at Beth Israel Lahey Health, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, social workers, and others.
Hassan Rastegar, MD, HCM Surgical Director, is an internationally known expert in performing surgery (septal myectomy) to treat severe symptoms caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Dr. Rastegar has one of the most extensive surgical experiences with this disease and has performed more than 1,000 HCM surgeries with outstanding results.
Septal Myectomy
Septal myectomy is a surgical procedure that reduces the thickness of the heart muscle caused by HCM and normalizes blood flow. The surgical intervention can extend longevity and restore quality of life to patients experiencing severe symptoms of HCM. Read about one patient’s experience with septal myectomy surgery.
Coordinated Care
Dr. Rastegar and the HCM surgical team work closely with experts from the Advanced Heart Failure Program, Cardiovascular Genetics Program, and Arrhythmia Services to provide a coordinated and personalized approach to the care of patients with HCM.
If you are considering surgery, call 617-632-8383 or email our office to make an appointment for a consultation. Learn more about the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Clinic at the Center for Cardiovascular Genetics.
The CVI is a pioneer in developing minimally invasive cardiac surgery techniques for patients with valve stenosis and regurgitation. Other minimally invasive surgeries routinely performed at the CVI include:
- Aortic valve replacement
- Atrial septal defect repair
- Patent foramen ovale repair
- Coronary artery bypass grafting
- Maze surgery to correct atrial fibrillation