Cardiac Surgery

Loyola University Health System has one of the premier cardiac and cardiovascular surgery programs in the Chicagoland area. Loyola has offered heart surgery for more than 25 years and there have been more than 4,000 open heart surgeries performed here during the last five years.

The cardiac surgery team at Loyola includes leading cardiovascular surgeons, highly skilled and recognized as experts in performing heart and lung transplantation, coronary bypass surgery, adult valvular and aortic surgeries and complex congenital procedures. In fact, Loyola cardiovascular surgeons perform robotic surgery for several procedures, offering patients reduced recovery times and less risk of infection.

Cardiac Surgery Procedures

Aortic Surgery
Aortic aneurysm repair is required when there is an aneurysm (a weakening of the aortic wall causing it to thin and dilate) and/or a dissection (a tear in one or more of the layers of the aortic walls). In addition to standard aneurysm repair, Loyola offers endovascular aortic aneurysm repair with a stent graft. Loyola has one of the largest aortic surgery practices in the Chicagoland area, performing 250 surgeries during the last five years. Loyola surgeons have vast experience in performing complex staged repairs of the ascending, arch, descending, thoracoabdominal, and isolated abdominal aorta, including those on Marfan patients. Additionally, Loyola's anesthesiologists offer state-of-the-art brain and spinal cord protection and monitoring during these procedures. Finally, all patients are included in Loyola's aortic surgery registry to ensure long-term follow up.

Carotid Surgery
The carotid arteries provide blood flow to the brain. When a patient's carotid arteries have at least 70 percent blockage, or stenosis, and an increased risk of a stroke, carotid endarterectomy is indicated. The surgery is performed by making an incision over the carotid artery. The surgeon then uses a tool to remove the plaque that is blocking the artery and also may use a vein patch to enlarge the artery. This allows more blood to flow through the artery.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)
This surgery is needed when one or more coronary artery is blocked or narrowed. A CABG diverts or bypasses blood flow around the blocked artery to increase blood flow to the heart muscle. This can be done by using vessels from the legs (saphenous vein), chest (mammary artery) and arm (radial artery).

Heart Valve Repair
When there is heart valve insufficiency (regurgitation or stenosis), a heart valve repair may be needed. The valve is repaired by remodeling the valve tissue followed by the insertion of a prosthetic ring for reinforcement. The advantage of heart valve repair is preservation of the native valve tissue, ventricular function, and the avoidance of anticoagulation. Loyola cardiovascular surgeons perform more than 100 valve repairs annually.

Heart Valve Replacement
When the valve is seriously deformed or degenerated, it often is replaced. The valve can be replaced with either a mechanical or tissue valve. Loyola surgeons have access to state-of-the-art mechanical and tissue valves. They also have extensive experience with aortic root replacement with stentless aortic valve conduits and homografts. The decision of which valve to use is made by the patient and the surgeon.

Heart Valve Surgery
Depending on the disease process and condition of the valve, heart valves are either replaced or repaired. Heart valve surgery is performed when heart valve regurgitation or stenosis exists. In our experience, mitral valves most often can be repaired, but aortic valves are usually replaced. Loyola surgeons perform 200 valve procedures annually.

Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass (MIDCAB)
This procedure allows the surgeon to perform coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) using a smaller incision, and generally without the use of the heart and lung machine to allow for quicker recovery.

Off-Pump CABG (OPCAB) "Beating Heart Surgery"
This surgery is indicated for select patients. During the surgery, stabilizing devices are used on the heart to allow bypassing of the coronary artery while the heart is beating. Thus, the use of the heart and lung machine is avoided.

Contact Us

For an appointment or for more information about Cardiac Surgery, call (888) LUHS-888.