Open Heart Surgery

Overview

The most common types of open heart surgery we perform include:

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG): Treatment for coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis.
Heart valve procedures: Correcting defective heart valves that have narrowing, blockages, or leaking.
Heart transplant: Replacement of a severely damaged heart with a healthy heart from a human donor.
Thoracic aortic procedures: Surgical treatment for all types of thoracic aortic conditions, including ascending aortic pathology in Marfan's Disease, dissection of the aorta, and thoracic and arch aneurysms using circulatory arrest techniques.

Schedule a Consultation

UR Medicine's Approach

If you need heart surgery, a team of health professionals from many different specialties will work with you and your family. You’ll be treated in our special units dedicated specifically to heart care. Our full range of services includes physical and occupational therapy, social work, and nutritional services.

Depending on your condition, traditional open heart surgery is not always needed. Our cardiac team is the region’s leader in minimally invasive surgeries, which bring less pain and scarring, fewer complications, and faster recovery.

We work to find these less invasive options for our patients whenever possible. That’s why we’re also a good source for patients looking for a second opinion.

Patient Stories

Near Death More Than a Thousand Times

Strong Memorial Hospital is the only hospital in Upstate New York that performs Heart Transplants.

After a diagnostic test reveals that he has been near death more than a thousand times, Mike Froome is put on the waiting list for a heart transplant. This film reveals what it’s like to wait for a heart—and then to finally hear that your new heart is on its way.

Overcoming a Congenital Heart Defect

Rusty Lawrence was born with a congenital heart defect. Doctors didn't expect him to live past the age of three. By age 43, Rusty was dying of congestive heart failure. His only hope was a heart transplant.

What Sets Us Apart?

Our internationally recognized, board-certified cardiac surgeons deliver the most comprehensive care to patients of all ages. They handle all pediatric cardiac surgery cases from Utica to Buffalo. Plus, they serve within the region’s only tertiary care center (specialized for patients needing complex care) for end-stage heart failure, complex aortic disease, and patients who require high-risk cardiac procedures.

UR Medicine is a referral center for the most complex heart surgeries, which means other hospitals in upstate New York send their most challenging cases to us. These other hospitals trust us because UR Medicine Cardiac Care leads the region in the number and scope of specialized services.

Our programs for heart failure, heart transplant, and cardio-oncology are unique in our area. These and other specialty programs ensure that you get the very latest treatments for a wide range of conditions.

We’re the only academic medical center in the area, and our involvement in research keeps us on the cutting edge in delivering patient care.