Cardiac Surgery

Why Choose Erlanger for Heart Surgery?

The Erlanger Heart and Lung Institute is home to nationally renowned innovators in minimally invasive robotic heart surgery. Performing highly advanced, life-saving procedures through small incisions, our heart surgery team is taking cardiac care to the next level in our region and beyond. For patients, this means faster recovery with less pain and a shorter hospital stay. We offer a wide range of surgical options including open sternotomy and minimally invasive/advanced robotic surgery for coronary revascularization or heart valve repairs, and off-pump/beating-heart surgery.

Advanced Hybrid Procedures

Our surgeons collaborate closely with our cardiologists, cardiac anesthesiologists, interventionalists, and electrophysiologists to provide the most advanced hybrid treatments. Hybrid procedures combine the advantages of cardiac surgery and interventional (catheter-based) approaches to offer patients the best both treatment worlds. Our hybrid options include convergent procedures, left atrial appendage occlusions, robotic maze, and TAVR/robotic cases.

Advanced Cardiothoracic Robotic Surgery

Single or double vessel revascularization
Mitral valve repairs and replacements
Atricure maze procedures
Left atrial appendage occlusions
Pericardial windows

Open Cardiac Procedures

Multi-vessel revascularization
Aortic valve replacements
Mitral valve repair/replacements
Tricuspid valve repair/replacements
Extensive left ventricular outflow track (LVOT) repairs
Left ventricular (LV) aneurysms
ASD/VAD/PFO closures

Advanced Aortic Surgery

Valve replacement with mechanical, animal, or human homograft valves
David procedures - aortic valve and root reconstruction
Bentall and Ross procedures
Total arch, hemi arch, and head vessel reimplantation
Frozen elephant trunks into descending aorta

Advanced Atrial Fibrillation Surgery

Maze procedures
Convergent cases
Left atrial appendage clips and ligations

Circulatory Support

Veno-arterial (VA)/veno-venous (VV) ECMO implantation and removal with extensive management
Intra-aortic balloon pump insertion, removal, and management