This procedure is the most common cardiac operation performed in the United States. It is done to correct blockage of the coronary arteries due to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). The typical patient has one or more of the following:

During the procedure, usually the internal mammary artery as well as the saphenous vein (from the leg) are used to bypass the coronary arteries. These bypasses deliver blood beyond the blockages significantly reducing subsequent chest pain and risk for heart attack & death.

Due to recent advances in equipment and techniques, in certain patients, this procedure can be done without the use of heart-lung machine (beating heart or off-pump). This reduces some of the stresses associated with the use of heart-lung machine.

This is the 2nd most common cardiac surgical operation. Each side of the heart (right or left) has two valves. An inflow valve (mitral or tricuspid) and an outflow valve (aortic or pulmonic). Many conditions can cause leakage or narrowing of one or more of these valves. The aortic and mitral valve are most commonly affected.

Atrial fibrillation is a condition where the rhythm of the heart is irregular. As a result, clots can form in chambers of the heart. If these clots move out of the heart, they can block blood flow of other organs such as the brain causing a stroke. Patients with this condition are frequently on blood thinners to prevent the risk of stroke. However, blood thinners increase the risk of bleeding and can be difficult to manage. Maze procedure restores the regular rhythm of the heart in up to 80% of the patients significantly reducing the risk of stroke. It also improves the efficiency of cardiac function. This procedure is indicated in patients with atrial fibrillation who are to undergo another cardiac surgery procedure such as coronary bypass and/or valve repair/replacement. For more . . .

Lung cancer is the most common malignancy afflicting both men and women in the United States. The only possibility for cure is provided if the portion of the lung containing the tumor can be totally removed. Lymph nodes are regularly sampled during surgery. This allows accurate staging of the tumor that is important in determining the prognosis and need for additional treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiation.

This procedure is aimed and removing an area of abnormality in the lung in order to determine its exact nature. This is most commonly performed to rule out cancer. The procedure can frequently be performed using minimally invasive techniques aimed at reducing pain as well as the time required to return to normal activity. The procedure is done through small incisions in the chest without spreading of the ribs.

This procedure is performed for hyperhydrosis (excessive sweating) of the arm/hand or Raynaud's Syndrome causing severe spasm of arteries to the fingers. The procedure is done using minimally invasive techniques to cut the nerves in the chest that influence sweat production and spasm of the arteries to the arm. It typically requires an overnight hospital stay.

In this condition, air escapes from the lung for a variety of reasons causing collapse of the lung that could be life threatening. Frequently air needs to be evacuated by insertion of a tube in the chest cavity. If there is evidence of ongoing leakage of air, several procedures, most of which can be done with minimally invasive techniques, are available to remove the abnormal area of the lung and reduce risk of recurrent pneumothorax.

In this condition, the aorta (main blood vessel carrying blood in the body) enlarges. Once the diameter exceeds 2 inches, the risk of rupture significantly increases. Ruptured aneurysm is a life-threatening condition with a greater than 50% risk of death. An unruptured aneurysm almost always causes no symptoms. It is frequently discovered through physical examination or X-ray studies. There are two main methods to repair the aneurysm using either a stent-graft or open surgery to replace the segment of the aorta with aneurysm. The choice depends on many factors such as patient's age, other medical conditions, and shape of the aneurysm.

Carotid arteries reside in the neck and are the main blood vessels to the brain. Severe blockage in carotid arteries carries a significant risk of stroke. Carotid endarterectomy is performed through an incision in the neck. The artery is opened while a shunt provides blood flow to the brain. The diseased lining of the artery is removed and artery repaired with a patch. Patient is typically discharged the next day with full recovery in 1-2 weeks.

These procedures are designed to provide blood flow to the lower leg in patients who have severe blockage/narrowing of arteries in the leg. The indications for surgery are severe pain, non-healing wounds/ulcers, or gangrene of the feet/legs. At surgery, the bypass is done using either the patient's own vein or an artificial graft. By providing additional blood flow, future risk of leg amputation is significantly reduced.