Surgery of the Aortic Valve Aortic stenosis secondary to degenerative calcification, congenital bicuspid aortic valve disease, or rheumatic fever is the most common indication for aortic valve replacement. Acute aortic…

Coarctation of the Aorta More than 50% of infants with a coarctation of the aorta become symptomatic during the first month of life. Associated cardiac anomalies accompany this lesion in…

Surgery of the Aorta ACUTE AORTIC DISSECTION Acute aortic dissection has a sudden onset and is a true surgical emergency. It is usually initiated by a transverse tear in the…

Surgery of the Mitral Valve Degenerative and myxomatous changes are the most common cause of mitral valve disease in North America and Western Europe today. These changes affect the leaflets…

Patent Ductus Arteriosus INCISION The ductus arteriosus can be adequately exposed through a small left anterior thoracotomy. A limited left posterolateral thoracotomy through the third or fourth intercostal space partially…

Pulmonary Artery Banding Because most neonates undergo total correction for congenital heart defects, banding of the pulmonary artery is only indicated for specific subgroups of patients. These include patients with…

Vascular Ring and Pulmonary Artery Sling Persistence of both the right and left embryonic dorsal aortic arches results in the development of a double aortic arch. The ascending aorta gives…

Surgery for Atrial Fibrillation The Maze procedure was developed and modified by Dr. James Cox and has proved to be effective for treating atrial fibrillation associated with valvular and ischemic…

Heart Transplantation Heart transplantation has emerged as an effective therapy for patients with end-stage heart diseases. In 2005, a total of 2,125 heart transplants were performed in the United States….

Surgery for Mechanical Complications of Myocardial Infarction The mechanical complications of acute myocardial infarction have serious clinical implications and are generally associated with a poor prognosis. The onset of ischemia…