Cardiothoracic Surgery

Treating complex conditions

alex roitstein surgery

Aurora BayCare has been recognized for groundbreaking research and positive patient outcomes. Our board-certified cardiothoracic surgeons work closely with your primary care physician, cardiologist and/or pulmonologist to deliver the best care possible.

The cardiothoracic surgery team is recognized as a leader in heart and lung surgery. Our experience in complex cardiothoracic conditions has helped established Aurora BayCare as a major referral center for cardiovascular patients from around the region.

Surgical Leaders

We use the latest advancements in technology and therapeutics and utilize quality initiatives to build upon our previous advancements. We participate in Aurora Health’s "Surgical Team Approach to Advanced Recovery" initiative to help improve our patient’s surgical experience and outcomes.

The Aurora BayCare cardiothoracic surgery team offers the following procedures which are not performed at other hospitals in our region:

  • Sutureless aortic valve replacement – using a sutureless valve significantly reduces surgery time, thereby reducing a patient’s overall surgical risk
  • Diaphragmatic pacemaker insertion - for patients who have sustained phrenic nerve injury, this is an option that may help improve their breathing by stimulating their diaphragm to contract and relax
  • Diaphragmatic plication – by reshaping the diaphragm, this procedure allows a person’s lung to expand more fully during inspiration and help reduce their shortness of breath

Heart Surgery Procedures

  • Aneurysm surgery – repairs a damaged blood vessel by replacing weak sections with a synthetic graft
  • Arrhythmia surgery, e.g. MAZE procedure – reconstructs portions of the heart’s atrium to correct electrical signals and return the heart to a normal rhythm
  • Chest wall reconstruction
  • Heart valve surgery – replaces or repairs one or more of your heart valves
  • Coronary Revascularization, including "Beating Heart Surgery" - The "beating heart" surgery was another regional first at Aurora BayCare. This procedure is ideal for older patients and those who have already had cardiac surgery.
  • Pericardial Window
  • Patient Foramen Ovale Closure
  • Atrial Fibrillation Surgery "Maze Procedure"
  • Cardiac Tumor Resection

Lung Surgery Procedures

  • Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery "VATS" – including Minimally invasive lobectomy for lung cancer. A minimally invasive lobectomy is a specific kind of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). VATS surgeries are performed with the help of a small video camera inserted into a patient’s chest. These procedures use small incisions and do not require opening the chest or spreading the ribs or chest muscles. VATS procedures involve less pain, less blood loss, shorter hospital stays and a lower risk of complications than traditional open-chest surgeries.
  • Thoracotomy
  • Lobectomy
  • Wedge Resection
  • Biopsy
  • Pneumonectomy
  • Decortication
  • Pleurodesis

Thoracic Surgery Procedures

  • Ascending Aortic Aneurysm Repair/Replacement
  • Bentall Procedure
  • Chest Wall Reconstruction
  • Cervical Mediastinal Exploration
  • Thymectomy
  • Subclavian Artery Bypass
  • Diaphragmatic Plication
  • Diaphragmatic Pacemaker Insertion

2015 Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital

Aurora BayCare is a Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital, as ranked by Truven Health for 2015. Top 50 award winners have higher patient survival rates, lower complication rates and lower costs than other hospitals in the country.