PAID ADVERTISEMENT
UPMC HEART AND VASCULAR INSTITUTE:
HEART SURGERY 101
Q A
Q A
If you or someone you love needs heart surgery, you want a skilled and caring surgical team that guides you each step of the way— from preparation through recovery.
We sat down with Ibrahim Sultan, MD, chief of Cardiac Surgery at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute, to learn more about heart surgery and UPMC’ s advanced team of heart surgery experts.
What is unique about cardiac surgery at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute?
UPMC is home to the largest volume cardiac surgery program in the region. We are nationally recognized as a center of excellence for advanced aortic care and hold the highest star rating possible by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons( STS).
This advanced expertise means that we are able to provide the highest level of care to our patients so we can help get them back to their healthy and active lives as quickly as possible.
What are some common conditions that you treat with heart surgery?
We treat people with all types of heart conditions— from the simplest to the most complex cases. Some of the common heart conditions we treat with heart surgery include:
• Coronary artery disease. Plaque buildup in the coronary artery causes the artery to narrow, cutting off oxygen to the heart. Subsequently, this condition may result in a heart attack.
• Heart valve stenosis or regurgitation. There are four valves in the heart. When a heart valve gets calcified or diseased, it may obstruct blood flowing from the heart( stenosis) or cause leaks when blood flows back into the heart( regurgitation). It can cause dizziness, an irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, or fatigue.
• Thoracic aortic aneurysm. The thoracic aorta delivers blood from the heart to the body. When the thoracic aorta dilates, it is called aneurysm. Aortic aneurysm may cause dissection, which is tear of the aorta, or rupture.
Q
What cardiac surgery services does the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute offer?
A
UPMC offers the largest and most complete heart surgery program in Pennsylvania. Our renowned heart surgery experts have experience performing open and minimally invasive techniques, including:
• Atrial or ventricular septal defect repair.
• Coronary artery bypass grafting.
• Heart tumor resection.
• Heart valve repair and replacement.
• Thoracic aortic aneurysm repair.
• Ventricular aneurysm repair or resection.