Heart Surgery and Procedures

Using the latest technology and procedures in heart surgery, Banner Health’s skilled heart surgeons use steady hands to correct structural defects, failing valves, and more.

Our team of cardiac experts have many tools available to them when it comes to treating your heart condition. As often as possible, we try to use minimally invasive procedures to treat your heart disease. Many times, these procedures can improve your condition so you can avoid heart surgery.

Minimally invasive procedures for heart disease include:

Heart Ablation Procedures

This procedure is used to treat abnormal heart rhythms. Radiofrequency ablation uses heat and Cryoablation uses extremely cold temperatures.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) 

This is used to replace a diseased valve through the femoral artery. This procedure typically needs less recovery time than traditional open heart surgery.

MitraClip or Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement

Using a catheter, the surgeon can place clips on the mitral valve to slow down leaking.

Watchman Procedure

This procedure can help reduce the risk of thromboembolism, which is when a blood clot moves from the atrial appendage to block other arteries.

PFO Closure

PFO, or patent foramen ovale, is a small hole in the heart that does not close after birth as it should have. Our surgeons use minimally invasive techniques to place a device to close the hole.

Peripheral Vascular Intervention

Common forms of peripheral vascular intervention include angioplasty and atherectomy.

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator

ICDs and pacemakers are small devices surgeons put in your chest or your abdomen to control your heart’s rhythm.

Surgical options include: 

Heart Transplant

For patients with severe heart failure or disease, this procedure replaces the diseased heart with a healthy heart from an organ donor.

Total Artificial Heart (TAH)

A pump device that is controlled from outside the body. A TAH can be used as a bridge-to-transplant therapy for patients awaiting a transplant or as a destination therapy – a long-term replacement.

Aortic Aneurysm Repair

This procedure includes placing a stent in an affected area to provide support.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

This procedure includes taking a vein from either the leg or the chest and attaching it above and below the blockage on the carotid artery to restore blood flow. 

Valve Replacement Surgery

In some cases, your surgeon may have to perform traditional open-heart surgery to replace a defective valve.

Carotid Artery Surgery

This surgery involves opening the artery and removing plaque buildup.

How Do I Prepare for Heart Surgery?

It's normal to worry about a heart procedure, but the Banner Health heart care team is here to answer your questions and help you prepare with all the information and reassurance you need. Before your heart surgery, you will meet with your doctor to get specific instructions for your surgery. Follow your doctor's directions for the day of your surgery.

When you arrive at the hospital, a staff member will admit you and take you to the pre-op holding room. There, your team of nurses and doctors will get you ready for surgery. We’ll communicate with you and your family during the entire process and provide education and information to help you make informed decisions.

How Does Heart Surgery Work?

If you are having a minimally invasive procedure, you may have one or several small incisions. Open-chest surgeries, including open-heart bypass surgery and some valve replacement surgeries, require an incision in the middle of your chest. Some types of surgery also require an incision in your leg or groin to get to your arteries or remove a vessel to be used for heart surgery.

How Long Does Heart Surgery Take?

The time you will be in surgery will depend on what type of procedure you are having, but you could expect to be in surgery between three to six hours. 

Once the surgery is complete, your team will take you to the intensive care unit (ICU) and monitor you closely.

What Happens Right After Heart Surgery?

Most people experience some pain after surgery, although everyone responds a little differently. Your team will work with you to help manage your pain and make you as comfortable as possible while you recover. During your stay in the cardiovascular intensive care unit (CICU), your family members and friends can visit you for short periods of time. Banner Health CICU includes remote monitoring, called iCare. This lets physicians work directly with you and your caregivers at your bedside 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Once you are stable, we'll take you to your hospital room. You can expect to stay in the hospital for 4 to 5 days, although it could be shorter or longer, depending on the type of surgery and your cardiac recovery.

When you're ready to go home, we'll give you a prescription for pain medication and instructions on how to get better at home. Your doctor will let you know when you can go back to work and drive. Your team will also talk to you about a plan for cardiac rehabilitation.