Heart Surgery Procedures and Treatments

Heart Surgery Procedures and Treatments2022-06-30T09:24:51-04:00

Cardiothoracic surgeons at WHS Washington Hospital perform many heart surgery procedures and treatments every year. From simple procedures to complex surgeries, WHS is your home for heart surgery and other cardiothoracic procedures.

Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Your aorta is the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. If the wall of the artery becomes weak, part of the aorta can widen. This can eventually cause the aorta to develop a hole and begin leaking blood. Open or minimally invasive surgery at WHS Washington Hospital can be used to repair the aorta before this happens.

Cardiothoracic and Lung Surgery

Cardiothoracic surgery refers to any surgery that treats a problem inside of the chest. This includes problems with organs such as the lungs, esophagus and the heart. Several cardiothoracic surgeons at WHS Washington Hospital perform procedures such as open-heart surgery and minimally invasive video-assisted thoracic surgery.

Carotid Endarterectomy

The carotid arteries in your neck carry blood to your head and brain. If the arteries become clogged with plaque, your risk for stroke increases. Surgeons at WHS Washington Hospital can clear your carotid arteries of plaque through a surgical procedure called carotid endarterectomy. This procedure may prevent a stroke from occurring.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

A blocked artery or narrowed blood vessel can reduce blood flow to your heart. This decreases the amount of oxygen your heart receives and can raise your risk of a heart attack.

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) restores blood flow to your heart. CABG uses healthy blood vessels from another part of the body to create a new pathway to the heart. The healthy blood vessel is attached above and below the blocked or narrowed artery so the blood can “bypass” the blockage and reach the heart without interference.

Heart Valve Repair and Replacement

Your heart has four valves that help control blood flow. These valves open to let blood in and out of the heart, and they close to keep blood from flowing backward. When heart valves don’t work correctly, your heart may have to work harder to pump blood through your body.

Advanced heart valve disease may require surgery to repair or replace damaged heart valves. Surgeons at WHS Washington Hospital are experts in valve repair and replacement, including transcatheter valve replacement (TAVR) and balloon valvuloplasty.

Maze Procedure

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) affects the heart’s electrical system, which throws your heart’s rhythm off beat. Your heart is supposed to have a steady pattern of beats per minute, but atrial fibrillation (AFib) can cause it to beat irregularly.

The maze procedure is a surgery that can treat AFib and restore your heart’s natural rhythm. It’s considered the gold standard of surgery for the treatment of AFib, and it’s offered at WHS Washington Hospital.

Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery

Video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) allows our cardiothoracic surgeons to access the inside of the chest cavity using small incisions. VATS can be used to diagnose or treat multiple conditions. Thanks to VATS, specialists at WHS can perform biopsies or remove tumors without needing to perform open surgery.

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