Cardiac Surgery 

TGH offers many types of cardiac surgery for patients with heart conditions. Heart surgery is any procedure that deals with the heart or the blood vessels that carry blood to and from the heart. While not every patient with a heart condition requires cardiac surgery, it is a common treatment for many patients. At Tampa General Hospital’s Heart & Vascular Institute, cardiac surgery is an integral part of our program. Our multidisciplinary approach to care means that our team of surgeons and specialists treat a high volume of heart patients every year—including complex cases—resulting in a level of surgical expertise and skill that is among the best in the country.  

Conditions Treated 

Cardiac surgery can treat a wide range of heart conditions, most especially those that place patients at a higher risk of heart attack, stroke or blood clots. Some of the most common conditions that can be treated with heart surgery include: 

  • Aortic aneurysms 
  • Heart arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation 
  • Congenital heart defects 
  • Coronary heart disease 
  • Heart failure 
  • Heart valve disease 

Procedure Details 

The cardiac surgeons at TGH have extensive experience in performing many complex cardiac surgeries, including: 

Aortic Aneurysm Repair 

Repairing an aortic aneurysm involves inserting a tube-like device called a graft into the weakened blood vessel. This allows blood to flow easily through the vessel and prevents it from rupturing.  

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery 

During CABG surgery, surgeons attach a blood vessel taken from another area in the heart, legs or arms and graft it to a blocked artery, creating a detour for blood flow around the blockage. 

Hybrid Revascularization 

This cardiac procedure blends percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with CABG surgery. It is typically performed when a patient has several coronary artery blockages that cannot be treated with PCI alone. The blockages are stented instead and a bypass graft is implanted.  

Device & Lead Implantation 

During this cardiac surgery, a device is implanted into the chest wall to maintain a normal heart rhythm. It works by sending a mild electric charge to the heart muscle whenever it detects an abnormal heart rate, whether too fast or too slow. 

Valve Repair or Replacement 

We can insert a new mechanical or tissue valve to replace any valves that are leaking or have narrowed. 

Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Implantation 

This procedure implants a small mechanical device (VAD) that helps an ailing heart pump blood. VADs can be used short-term while a patient waits for a heart transplant or long-term for patients not eligible for transplantation. 

Heart Transplant 

TGH performed the first successful heart transplant in Florida and is now one of 12 centers nationally to have performed more than 500 heart transplants. Additionally, we're the fifth busiest cardiac transplant center in the U.S. 

What to Expect 

Previously, open-heart surgery was the only option for patients with heart conditions. Now, minimally invasive procedures can often be used in place of traditional surgery. Minimally invasive heart surgery is performed through a small incision, usually about 3 to 4 inches instead of the 6- to 8-inch incisions required for traditional surgery. Specialized surgical instruments are frequently used. There are many benefits to minimally invasive cardiac surgery, including: 

  • Faster recovery  
  • Less postoperative pain 
  • A reduced risk of complications 
  • Minimal scarring 
  • Less blood loss (reducing the need for a blood transfusion) 

Effectiveness  

TGH provides world-class cardiac care in the Tampa Bay area. Our team has the experience and advanced technology to perform the most complex heart surgeries at high volumes. We participate in clinical trials that advance the treatment landscape, allowing us to produce the best outcomes for our patients.