BHS Cardiothoracic Surgery
Leaders in Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery
Patient care is our first priority. We treat our patients and their families
with compassion and respect. Accessibility and responsiveness are instilled
in our culture. Our clinical staff and office staff possess these same
values and goals and will assist you through your surgical experience
and recovery.
Our service areas include:
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)
This operation is designed to bypass blockages that have developed in the
arteries on your heart. This is intended to improve blood flow to your
entire heart at rest as well as with exercise. The grafted blood vessel
can come from a number of places in your body, most often an artery from
under your breast bone or vein from your leg.
Heart Valve Surgery
Valve surgery is performed to repair or replace damaged valves in your
heart. This is needed when valves become severely diseased, either leaking
(insufficiency/regurgitation) or restricted (stenosis). If valve replacement
is necessary this can be done with either a mechanical or tissue valve.
This decision will be made after a discussion with their surgeon.
TAVR - Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
Replacement of Enlarged Aorta (ascending thoracic aneurysm)
An ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm is a bulging of the aorta that is
located at the aorta as it comes out of the heart. To repair an aneurysm
in this location requires open surgery (an incision in the middle of your
chest and going through your breast bone) to replace your aorta with a graft.
Minimally Invasive (Endovascular) Repair of Enlarged Aorta
Often aneurysms (abdominal and descending thoracic) are able to be repaired
without open surgery. When endovascular repair is appropriate it can be
done via the arteries in your groin and often require no incisions. This
allows for much quicker recovery than traditional surgery. When deciding
whether to recommend repair (and what approach is appropriate) your surgeon
will review your testing and take into consideration the location &
size of your aneurysm, how fast it has grown and your overall health.
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Procedures
PAD is when blockages develop in the arteries to your legs or arms and
cause pain that interferes with your daily activities. To restore blood
flow to the affected area a bypass or an endarterectomy can be performed.
A bypass is when a graft (plastic tube or a vein taken from your leg)
reroutes blood flow around the blockage. An endarterectomy is when the
plaque build up is removed from a specific artery. After interviewing,
examining and reviewing your testing your surgeon will determine what
the appropriate treatment is for you.
Removal of Carotid Plaques for Stroke Prevention
Carotid endarterectomy is surgery that removes plaque buildup from inside
a carotid artery in your neck. This surgery is done to restore normal
blood flow to the brain to prevent a stroke.
Traditional Thoracic Surgery
Procedures can be done for treatment of many lung and chest related diseases.
Sometime procedures require open surgical techniques and other times procedures
can be done with a minimally invasive procedure known as a video assisted
thorocoscopic surgery (VATS). The decision, of whether open or minimally
invasive surgery will be performed, is made by the surgeon after interviewing,
examining and reviewing your testing. These procedures are used to treat
and/or diagnose lung nodules, mediastinal lymphadenopathy, interstitial
lung disease, and pleural effusions to list a few.
Lung Cancer Procedures
Surgeries can be done that range from biopsy and staging to definitive
treatment (resection). The approach that is most appropriate for you and
your treatment will be decided by your surgeon after interviewing, examining
and reviewing your testing.