Minimally-Invasive Cardiac Surgery -- 718.780.7700

Cardiac Bypass Surgery

Although medication and interventional cardiology often function to keep arteries to the heart from becoming clogged and impeding blood flow, surgery to bypass damaged arteries is sometimes the best option for preventing an imminent myocardial infarction (heart attack) or for avoiding a recurrence of one.  For appropriate candidates, it is now possible to approach cardiac bypass surgery as a minimally invasive procedure, involving very small incisions and/or the elimination of the use of the heart-lung machine during the surgery.   The advantages of this approach include a quicker recovery, decreased need for blood transfusions and reduced pain.

Mitral Valve Surgery

The mitral valve is the "inflow valve" for the main pumping chamber of the heart, the left ventricle. Blood flows from the lungs, where it picks up oxygen, across the open mitral valve into the left ventricle. If all is functioning well, when the heart squeezes, the valve closes and prevents blood from backing up to the lungs.  If the valve leaks (causing regurgitation of blood into the lungs) or narrows (stenosis), a mitral valve repair may be needed.

In the past, surgeons treated mitral valve disease by removing the diseased valve and implanting an artificial valve (valve replacement).  However, in many cases, it is now possible to repair, rather than replace, the mitral valve.  The advantages of this approach include improved long-term survival rates, a decreased need for repeat surgery and reduced risk of stroke and infection, as well as the ability to avoid long-term treatment with blood thinners.

Aortic Valve Surgery

Blood is directed out of the heart to the rest of the body through the aortic valve.  If this valve is blocked  (stenosis), the work of the heart is increased, and if the blockage is severe, the aortic valve needs to be replaced or the heart will fail. The aortic valve can also leak (aortic insufficiency).   It may also be involved in patients who have aortic aneurysms. The aneurysm may stretch the valve, causing it to leak.  Depending on the individual circumstances, the valve may need replacement or it may be possible to repair it.  In either case, surgeons at NYM are able to use minimally invasive approaches to provide the appropriate treatment.

 Visit our Institute of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery. Or for more information, please call 718.780.7700.