Care with Heart
Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women in the United States . Every 33 seconds , one person dies from cardiovascular disease . By knowing your numbers and getting your heart checked regularly , you can manage your risk for heart disease through lifestyle changes and medication .
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 preparing for surgery all the way through recovery .
UPMC offers the largest and most complete heart surgery program in Pennsylvania . Our renowned heart surgeons are national and global experts in open and minimallyinvasive surgical techniques , including roboticassisted cardiac surgery .
What Is Coronary Artery Bypass ( CABG ) Surgery ?
Coronary artery bypass graft ( CABG ) surgery is an intervention used to treat coronary artery disease when lifestyle changes , medicines , or catheterization procedures don ’ t work .
CABG creates a new route for blood to flow around a blocked artery . During a CABG procedure , your surgeon takes a healthy artery or vein from another part of your body — called a graft — and uses it to bypass the blocked artery , increasing blood flow to the heart .
Robotic-Assisted CABG : An Innovative Alternative
UPMC offers innovative , minimallyinvasive alternatives to traditional open heart surgery , such as roboticassisted CABG .
During this procedure , the surgeon makes four small incisions on the side of the patient ’ s chest . The surgeon then inserts robotic instruments to bypass the blocked artery to allow blood and oxygen to reach the heart .
Johannes Bonatti , MD , director of robotic cardiac surgery at UPMC , is an internationally recognized expert and pioneer in the use of roboticassisted cardiac surgery .