University of Minnesota Physicians specialists provide a comprehensive range of cardiothoracic surgeries to treat everything from routine cardiac conditions to end-stage heart failure:

• heart transplantation
• implantation of ventricular assist devices (VAD)
• minimally invasive procedures
• minimally invasive robotic surgery
• on- and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting
• thoracic aortic aneurysm repair
• treatment of aortic disease processes
• valve repair and replacement

With new less-invasive techniques being developed for surgery, our goal is to achieve a balance between the least invasive procedure and the best long-term outcome.

Other frequently performed procedures include…

• valve repair and/or replacement for aortic and mitral valve pathology employing innovative techniques such as…
• • annuloplasty
  • chordal replacement
  • leaflet excision
  • valve resuspension
• valve-sparing aortic root replacement
• homograft replacement of the aortic valve and root
• thoracic aortic aneurysm treatment employing…
• • deep hypothermia
  • circulatory arrest
  • antegrade and/or retrograde cerebral perfusion for central nervous system protection

Meanwhile, our Aortic Disease program brings together specialists in the diagnosis, treatment and surgery of the aorta and major blood vessels—including surgery and stent grafting—to craft the most advanced response to a patient’s individual needs and desires.