Heart and vascular surgery

Minimally invasive surgery

Whenever possible, we use minimally invasive surgical practices that can accomplish the same positive outcomes as traditional open surgery, through a series of tiny incisions, as opposed to one large incision. These types of approaches benefit you in several ways, including reduced pain, minimal scarring and a faster recovery time.

Aortic stent grafting

If you have an aortic aneurysm, your cardiologist may recommend you get an aortic stent graft to support the weak or bulging area of your aorta. In this procedure, a fabric tube, supported by metal wire stents, is placed inside your aorta to provide reinforcement, so blood can pass through the area without causing pressure on the aneurysm.

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) and atrial septal defect (ASD) closure

A PFO occurs when there is a hole between the heart's left and right atria, which allows blood to flow between these two areas. An ASD is a hole in the part of the septum that separates the atria, which encompasses the upper chambers of the heart. An ASD causes blood to flow from the left atrium to the right atrium, instead of flowing to the left ventricle as it should.

In a procedure to close a PFO or ASD, the surgeon threads a catheter into an incision, through the veins and into the heart. Once inside the septum, the surgeon opens a tiny umbrella-like device to close the hole at the end of the catheter.

Mitral valve regurgitation treatment

Treatment for mitral valve regurgitation becomes necessary when the mitral heart valve doesn't close completely. This causes blood to flow backward into the left atrium, rather than going out to the brain and other organs. Our cardiothoracic surgeons expertly treat this condition using transcatheter mitral valve repair or a transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) procedure.

Open heart surgery

Our dedicated cardiothoracic surgeons are specially trained and experienced in using open heart surgery for conditions where minimally invasive techniques will not suffice. These procedures are performed at our three cardiothoracic clinics at Centerpoint Medical Center, Overland Park Regional Medical Center and Research Medical Center.

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)

Your doctor may recommend you undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) if you have heart disease or atherosclerosis. CABG helps restore blood flow to the heart by taking blood vessels from other body areas to create a new route for blood to flow around the areas affected by your condition.

Heart valve repair and replacement

If your heart valves have been diseased or damaged, your doctor may recommend you undergo a heart valve repair procedure. This type of procedure aims to cure or improve complications by restoring the function of your heart valves.

If your heart valves are narrowed, loose, infected or otherwise abnormal due to a congenital (present at birth) condition and they can't be repaired, your cardiologist may recommend heart valve replacement. In this procedure, the non-functioning valve is replaced with a new valve made of metal and plastic (mechanical), or made of pig, cow or human tissue.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass (CAB)

In this type of grafting procedure, the surgeon performs an off-pump coronary artery bypass (CAB), without a cardiopulmonary bypass. During a cardiopulmonary bypass, a heart-lung machine is used to temporarily stop the heart. Now, our surgeons can stabilize portions of your heart during surgery. An off-pump CAB leads to improved function of the heart, if you are experiencing coronary artery disease.

Surgical left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation

If you've been diagnosed with heart failure, your cardiologist may recommend a surgical left ventricle assist device (LVAD). An LVAD is a mechanical device implanted into the chest to help pump blood from the left chamber of the heart to the rest of the body. Depending on your circumstances, an LVAD may be a temporary or permanent solution.