Cardiovascular surgery

Advocate Heart Institute’s cardiovascular surgery team provides expert care for diseases of the heart and its blood vessels.

We are ranked among the top 10% in the nation for cardiology and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report. This distinction means our patients have fewer complications and are more likely to go directly home, rather than to another facility.

Types of cardiovascular surgical procedures

We can treat many heart conditions with minimally invasive techniques, though some require direct access to the heart using open surgery. Advocate Heart Institute cardiovascular surgeons perform the following cardiovascular surgery procedures:

Adult congenital heart surgery

There are many types of congenital heart disease. We provide corrective surgery to repair heart defects present since birth that have not needed treatment until adulthood.

Aortic aneurysm and dissection repair

Our surgeons perform a range of surgical techniques to fix bulging or torn sections of the aorta (the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the body). Learn more about aortic aneurysms and dissections.

Cardiac ablation

We use hot or cold energy to create scar tissue. The tiny scars block the abnormal electrical triggers that cause an irregular heartbeat, or atrial fibrillation.

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)

Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that feed the heart. If these arteries become blocked, CABG surgery creates a new path for blood to flow around the blocked area.

Heart transplant

Our cardiac surgeons offer hope to people whose hearts are no longer functioning. Find out more about our heart transplant program.

Heart valve repair and replacement

We offer both minimally invasive and open procedures to fix heart valves that have narrowed or are leaking. Read more about our valvular heart disease program.

Myectomy

In people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, we use this technique to remove thickened areas of heart tissue.

Ventricular assist device implants

A ventricular assist device (VAD) is a mechanical device that helps the heart pump blood. We implant them for those whose heart is not able to function on its own.

Why choose Advocate Heart Institute for cardiovascular surgery

Our national recognition for heart surgery demonstrates our commitment to providing the best possible experience and outcomes. In addition, we have established our excellence through:

Unmatched experience in cardiovascular surgery

Experience is important in cardiovascular surgery because the more you do, the better you get. Experience also means that if something unexpected happens, the team can quickly react.

At Advocate Heart Institute, we:

• Are among the top 100 hospitals and health systems with great heart programs, according to Becker’s Hospital Review
• Perform more than 5,000 cardiac procedures each year

• Have one of the busiest ventricular assist device programs in Illinois
• Do more transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures and open-heart valve surgeries than any hospital system in the region

At Advocate Christ Medical Center, we received a score of high performing (the highest score possible) for the following procedures:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
• Heart bypass surgery
• Heart valve surgery
• TAVR

What’s more, between July 2017 and December 2019, patients who received a heart transplant at Advocate Christ Medical Center had a 100% survival rate. The national average was 91%.

Advanced cardiovascular technologies and hybrid approaches

The field of cardiovascular surgery is constantly changing. Advocate Heart Institute’s surgeons are leading the way with the use of new technologies.

We provide you with opportunities to benefit from the latest technology by participating in all available clinical trials. Learn more about participating in a clinical trial through the Advocate Research Institute.

Cardiovascular surgeons also partner with interventional cardiology specialists to offer hybrid approaches. These combine minimally invasive catheter techniques with open surgical procedures and provide treatments tailored to each person's condition.

Multidisciplinary cardiovascular surgical teams

Teamwork is a core principle at Advocate Heart Institute. Our cardiovascular surgeons collaborate closely with cardiologists and other physicians, nurses and a vast network of specialists.

You’ll find our team has a passion for their work. This sense of purpose and focus helps us provide the safest environment and best outcomes for you.