Cardiothoracic Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery at UVM Health

Cardiothoracic surgeons perform procedures that treat conditions affecting your heart (cardiac) and chest (thoracic).

At University of Vermont Health, our team of expert surgeons has a long history of providing leading-edge, life-saving surgical care to patients with chest and heart diseases.

We personalize our care approach to your needs so that you receive individualized, effective treatment no matter where you live in Vermont and northern New York.

A cardiothoracic surgeon preps for a surgery.

Why Choose UVM Health?

As one of the leading heart and vascular programs in the region, we offer:

Advanced treatments: Advances in minimally invasive heart surgery now allow us to perform many cardiothoracic procedures without open-chest surgery. Our cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiologists work together to perform the latest minimally invasive and robotic techniques for complex and rare conditions.
Academic emphasis: As part of a health system anchored by an academic medical center, our physicians are active researchers, and have trained at some of the most prestigious institutions in the nation. We are a founding member of the Northern New England Cardiovascular Disease Study Group, a network of institutions that collaborate on clinical trials and research.
Excellent outcomes: Our team tracks all patient outcomes in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) National Database and we are proud to say that we consistently meet and exceed these benchmarks.
Patient-centered care: We work to understand your preferences and listen to your concerns before we recommend a treatment plan. Our surgeons meet with patients daily while they recover in the hospital and continue follow-up care to help you get well after surgery.

I was so nervous about the surgery. But when I arrived everyone made me feel comfortable and safe. They were so kind and empathetic.

Ann Davila Cardinal, UVM Health Patient

Conditions We Treat

Our cardiothoracic surgeons treat an extensive range of both common and rare diseases that affect your heart and chest, including:

Aortic aneurysm: A bulge in the wall of the aorta, the large artery that runs through your chest (thoracic aortic aneurysm) and abdomen (abdominal aortic aneurysm)
Aortic dissection: A tear in the inner layer of the aorta
Arrhythmias: Irregular heart rhythms
Cardiac tumors: Atypical growths in your heart tissue that may be cancerous or noncancerous
Coronary artery disease: The narrowing of your coronary arteries (the blood vessels that carry blood to your heart)
Diaphragm paralysis: A condition where the diaphragm, the primary muscle involved in breathing, loses its ability to function properly.
Heart valve diseases: Including valve narrowing (stenosis) and leaking (regurgitation)
Hiatal hernia: A condition where a small portion of the stomach pushes upward through the diaphragm, a sheetlike muscle that separates the lungs from the abdomen.
Lung hernia: A condition where a part of the lung pushes upward through the chest wall, diaphragm or neck.
Lung, mediastinal and chest wall tumors: Atypical growths in your lungs, the area between your lungs or chest wall that may be cancerous or noncancerous
Paraesophageal hernia: The stomach bulges up through an opening in the diaphragm (hiatus) alongside the esophagus.
Pleural effusion: A buildup of excess fluid in the tissues that line the lungs

Types of Cardiothoracic Surgery

Our cardiothoracic surgeons offer a range of surgical services for both common and complex conditions. Our nationally accredited, non-invasive diagnostic laboratory at the UVM Center for Aortic Diseases brings together a multidisciplinary team of vascular and cardiothoracic surgeons to diagnose and treat complex aortic disease.

Types of cardiothoracic surgery we offer include:

Aneurysm Surgery

Your surgeon treats an aortic aneurysm (a bulge in the aorta, the body’s largest artery) by removing the damaged section of the aorta and replacing it with a small synthetic tube called a graft.

Aortic Dissection Repair

Your surgeon removes portions of the dissected aorta and replaces it with a graft, which is a synthetic tube. Your surgeon may also use a hybrid approach that combines open and endovascular techniques to repair aortic dissections that extend into the aortic arch (the segment of the aorta that supplies blood to the arms and brain).

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)

Your surgeon redirects blood flow around a blocked coronary artery using a vein or artery graft from elsewhere in your body. Your surgeon may use open-heart surgery or a minimally invasive approach, in which they make a small incision and access the heart with small surgical tools.

Maze Procedure

Your surgeon uses heat, cold energy or a scalpel to create a pattern of scars on your heart tissue. This scar pattern treats atrial fibrillation by blocking irregular electrical signals in the heart. The Maze procedure is usually an open-heart surgery.

Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Surgery

The aortic valve opens and closes to control blood flow from your lower heart chamber to your aorta. Our cardiothoracic surgeons can use minimally invasive techniques to replace the valve, reinforce the valve, widen the valve, repair holes in the valve or reconnect valve flaps.

Pulmonary Tumor Resection

Surgeons may remove lung tumors with minimally invasive techniques or an open-chest procedure called a thoracotomy. Your surgeon may remove one portion of your lung (segmentectomy or lobectomy), a wedge-shaped portion of tissue around the tumor (wedge resection) or the entire affected lung (pneumonectomy).

Robotic Thoracic Surgery

Robotic surgery is a type of highly precise, minimally invasive surgery that uses high-definition cameras and a robotic system. Your surgeon makes an incision in the side of your chest, then inserts a camera to get a clear view of your chest cavity. They perform the procedure by controlling robotic surgical tools from a special console.

Valve Repair

Surgeons use open techniques to repair a damaged or diseased heart valve. They may remove excess tissue, reinforce a valve opening, patch a hole or reconnect valve flaps. Valve repair can be used to treat both the mitral valve, which controls blood flow between your upper and lower left heart chambers, and the tricuspid valve, which controls blood flow between the upper and lower right heart chambers.

Valve Replacements

Your surgeon works with the cardiology team to remove a damaged or diseased heart valve and replaces it with a mechanical or tissue valve. They may use open-heart surgery or catheter-based techniques.

Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS)

This minimally invasive technique uses small incisions and a tube with a camera called a thoracoscope. The thoracoscope allows your surgeon to see inside your chest cavity without making large incisions. Cardiothoracic surgeons may use VATS for a variety of conditions that affect the chest and lungs.

Patient Resources

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS): Review our patient guide to learn more about ERAS and your journey to a successful recovery from cardiac surgery.