Cardiac surgery in Kansas City

If you need heart surgery, you want to know you’re in the hands of an experienced surgical team like the ones at HCA Midwest Health. Our cardiothoracic surgeons are highly trained in many types of cardiac surgery to treat heart disease and help you live a healthier life.

To talk with one of our cardiothoracic surgeons, schedule an appointment.

Types of heart surgery we perform

Our heart surgeons perform a variety of heart and vascular procedures, including surgery to repair structural heart abnormalities. Our expertise also includes the following types of surgery:

Minimally invasive surgery

Whenever possible, we use a minimally invasive approach to heart surgery by using advanced techniques to change what were previously major surgeries into less invasive procedures. This approach benefits the patient in several ways, including reduced pain, less scarring and a faster recovery time.

Aortic stent grafting

If you have an aortic aneurysm, your cardiologist may recommend you get an aortic stent graft to support the weak or bulging area of your aorta. In this procedure, a fabric tube, supported by metal wire stents, is placed inside your aorta to provide reinforcement so blood can pass through the area without causing pressure on the aneurysm.

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) & atrial septal defect (ASD) closure

A PFO occurs when there is a hole between the heart's left and right atria, which allows blood to flow between these two areas. An ASD is a hole in the part of the septum that separates the atria, the upper chambers of the heart. An ASD causes blood to flow from the left atrium to the right atrium instead of flowing to the left ventricle as it should.

In a procedure to close a PFO or ASD, the surgeon threads a catheter into an incision, through the veins and into the heart. Once inside the septum, the surgeon opens a tiny umbrella-like device to close the hole at the end of the catheter.

Mitral valve regurgitation treatment

Mitral valve regurgitation occurs when the mitral heart valve doesn't close completely. This causes blood to flow backward into the left atrium rather than going out to the brain and other organs. Our cardiothoracic surgeons can perform treatment for this condition using transcatheter mitral valve repair or transcatheter mitral valve replacement.

Open-heart surgery

We have cardiothoracic surgeons who are specially trained and experienced in open-heart surgery for conditions that require major surgery. These procedures are performed at our three cardiothoracic clinics at Centerpoint Medical Center, Overland Park Regional Medical Center and Research Medical Center.

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)

Your doctor may recommend you undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) if you have heart disease or atherosclerosis. CABG helps restore blood flow to the heart by taking blood vessels from other body areas to create a new route for blood to flow around the areas affected by the heart condition.

Heart valve repair and replacement

If your heart valves have been diseased or damaged, your doctor may recommend you undergo a heart valve repair procedure. This type of procedure aims to cure or improve the problem by restoring the function of your heart valves.

If your heart valves are narrowed, loose, infected or otherwise abnormal due to a congenital (present at birth) condition and they can't be repaired, your cardiologist may recommend heart valve replacement. In this procedure, the valve not properly functioning is replaced with a new valve made of metal and plastic (mechanical) or made of pig, cow or human tissue.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass (CAB)

In a relatively new type of coronary artery bypass grafting, the surgeon performs an off-pump coronary artery bypass (CAB) without a cardiopulmonary bypass. During a cardiopulmonary bypass, a heart-lung machine is used to stop the heart temporarily. Instead, the surgeon can now stabilize portions of the heart during surgery. An off-pump CAB leads to improved function of the heart in patients with coronary artery disease.

Surgical left ventricular assist device (LVAD)

If you've been diagnosed with heart failure, your cardiologist may recommend a surgical left ventricle assist device (LVAD). An LVAD is a mechanical device implanted into the chest to help pump blood from the left chamber of the heart to the rest of the body. Depending on your circumstances, an LVAD may be a temporary or permanent solution for your heart condition.