Cardiac Surgery

Cardiothoracic surgery includes coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), heart valve repair or replacement, left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement, heart transplant, assisting in minimally invasive transcatheter valve structural heart procedures such as TAVR, left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion, septal myectomy, surgical ablation for arrhythmias, and reconstruction of the heart in congenial heart disease cases.

CCTA could make invasive angiography a thing of the past
John Puskas, MD, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Emory University Hospital Midtown, feels strongly coronary CT angiography will very soon eliminate the need for catheterizing patients just to shoot pictures and may even be required for objective revascularization assessments.
How to choose between CABG and PCI when treating coronary artery disease
John Puskas, MD, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Emory University Hospital Midtown, noted that both treatment options have their own benefits. It often depends on the patient's age and comorbidities, though there are other factors to consider as well.
Surgeons perform world’s first on-table heart reanimation to save infant’s life
“This innovation was born out of necessity,” one surgeon explained. “We were determined to find a way to help the smallest and sickest children who previously had no access to DCD heart donation.”
How pairing SAVR with additional heart surgeries affects mortality risk
When older patients undergo SAVR with concomitant procedures, it increases their short- and long-term risks of mortality. Should this influence care teams to consider more transcatheter treatments?
Surgeons perform world’s first robotic-assisted implant of biventricular assist device
The patient, 61, had been bedridden for months due to end-stage heart failure and was not eligible for a heart transplant.

Cardiac surgeon John Puskas, MD, Emory University, says CCTA will make invasive angiography obsolete very soon.

CCTA could make invasive angiography a thing of the past

John Puskas, MD, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Emory University Hospital Midtown, feels strongly coronary CT angiography will very soon eliminate the need for catheterizing patients just to shoot pictures and may even be required for objective revascularization assessments.

John D. Puskas, MD, MSc, PhD., FACS, FACC, professor of surgery, and chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Emory University Hospital Midtown, explains when patients are best served with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery rather than percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

How to choose between CABG and PCI when treating coronary artery disease

John Puskas, MD, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Emory University Hospital Midtown, noted that both treatment options have their own benefits. It often depends on the patient's age and comorbidities, though there are other factors to consider as well.

Joseph Turek, MD, PhD, chief of pediatric cardiac surgery at Duke Health

Surgeons perform world’s first on-table heart reanimation to save infant’s life

“This innovation was born out of necessity,” one surgeon explained. “We were determined to find a way to help the smallest and sickest children who previously had no access to DCD heart donation.”

How pairing SAVR with additional heart surgeries affects mortality risk

When older patients undergo SAVR with concomitant procedures, it increases their short- and long-term risks of mortality. Should this influence care teams to consider more transcatheter treatments?

King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC) biventricular assist device

Surgeons perform world’s first robotic-assisted implant of biventricular assist device

The patient, 61, had been bedridden for months due to end-stage heart failure and was not eligible for a heart transplant.

FDA details multiple Class I recalls for Edwards Lifesciences surgical devices

Edwards Lifesciences has recalled more than 61,000 medical devices due to the risk of a small piece of wire becoming exposed. No patient injuries have been reported at this time.

World’s first patient receives new-look heart pump—cardiologist ‘impressed’ by device’s performance

The CorWave technology is unlike other left ventricular assist devices, working in harmony with the patient's heartbeat and making adjustments as needed.

old woman or doctor shaking hands with patient

Early occlusion after CABG much more likely for female patients

Care teams should be aware of this difference, even using CT images when possible to look for signs of any potential issues.