Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute takes a collaborative approach to every patient undergoing cardiac surgery. Whether you need a minimally invasive procedure or a more extensive open-heart surgery, a team with specialists from all areas of cardiovascular care will work together to decide the best treatment for you.
Our team has experience with a range of cardiac surgeries, including the latest minimally invasive techniques.
Although we may be surgery experts, we understand that surgery may not always be the best approach for every patient. With that in mind, we work closely with colleagues across Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute to determine the right treatment for your condition. If surgery is necessary, we will aim to use a minimally invasive approach whenever possible to improve recovery and limit your time in the hospital.
Why do I need cardiac surgery?
Cardiac surgery can be used to repair or unblock arteries around the heart. It may also be used to repair or replace a damaged valve or major blood vessel around the heart.
You may need cardiac surgery if you have been diagnosed with heart disease, heart failure or a heart valve problem that cannot be treated with medicine and lifestyle changes. You may also need surgery if these conservative approaches are no longer working.
Preparing for cardiac surgery
This booklet will inform you about getting ready for your heart surgery and the first few days after it is over. You will find general information about:
- Things to do to get ready for heart surgery.
- What usually happens in the hospital after surgery.
- What you can do to help recover from your surgery.
Preparing for minimally invasive heart surgery
Minimally invasive heart surgery is a less invasive surgical approach than traditional open heart surgery. During a minimally invasive procedure, surgeons operate through small incisions between the rib bones rather than a large incision across the sternum, or breastbone, to open the chest and access the heart. When you have minimally invasive heart surgery, the benefits are significant, such as less discomfort during recovery, a shorter hospital stay and a smoother, faster healing process.
Knowing what will happen before, during and after minimally invasive heart surgery can help you feel more at ease and ready for a successful procedure and recovery. This booklet will help you understand what to expect and how to prepare for your surgery. Your heart surgery team at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute is always available to answer any questions or concerns you may have before and after your heart procedure.
Which cardiac surgeries are offered at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute?
At Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, we have experience with the latest minimally invasive cardiac surgery and open- heart surgery, including:
- Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), including a minimally invasive approach (MICS CABG)
- Heart valve repair or replacement, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
- Aortic dissection repair
Patient Selection
Advanced age
Long-term steroid use
Severe COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
Severe deconditioning
Need for other major operative procedure
Patients with severe arthritic or orthopedic problems
I live in paradise. My wife is beautiful and fantastic. I have phenomenal friends and it’s the greatest place in the world. If you go online, you don’t read too many (aortic dissection) success stories. I am thankful to everybody involved at Baptist Health.
Frequently Asked Questions
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With a TAVR procedure, performed collaboratively between a cardiac surgeon and an interventional cardiologist, we access the aortic valve through a catheter that is inserted in your chest or leg, which means we do not have to break the chest bone, make large incisions or put the heart on a bypass machine. This approach helps patients avoid the intensive care unit and spend less time in the hospital, with most patients going home within 48 hours of surgery. Patients also experience less pain and a lower risk of infection.
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An aortic dissection is a serious condition in which the inner layer of the aorta, the large blood vessel branching off the heart, tears. Blood flows through the tear, causing the inner and middle layers of the aorta to separate or dissect. If the blood-filled channel ruptures through the outside aortic wall, aortic dissection is often fatal. Symptoms of aortic dissection may be similar to those of other diseases, often leading to delays in diagnosis. However, when an aortic dissection is detected early and treated quickly, the chance of survival greatly improves.
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MICS CABG stands for minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS)/coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). This is one of the newer approaches to coronary artery surgery that accesses the heart through small incisions in the chest. This technique was pioneered by our chief of cardiac surgery, Dr. Joseph McGinn and Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute is the only place in Florida that offers this approach.
During the procedure, a healthy artery from the body is connected to a blocked artery, which allows blood to bypass the blocked artery and keep flowing.
The MICS CABG procedure doesn’t require the surgeon to break the chest bone, and the heart can keep beating during the procedure, which helps improve recovery time, lowers risk of infection and reduces the patient’s hospital stay.
Our Approach
When you come to Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute for cardiac surgery, you can expect:
- A collaborative approach to your care, with experts from all areas of cardiology coming together to find the best treatment for you.
- A team that strives to find non-invasive or minimally invasive approaches whenever possible.
- The most advanced cardiac surgery technology and equipment all available under one roof.
International Patients
We offer a full range of services for international patients. The Baptist Health International Coordination of Care team is available 24 hours a day to answer your questions and make arrangements.
Search Cardiac Surgery Clinical Trials
Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute has a robust research program that includes several cardiac surgery studies. Our team also maintains ongoing research into our hospital processes to improve patient outcomes and experiences.