Yuji Kawano, MD| Cardiac Surgery | MedStar Health
About me
Yuji Kawano, MD, is a cardiac surgeon at MedStar Washington Hospital Center with a unique specialization in minimally invasive and robotic heart surgery.
Dr. Kawano comes to MedStar Health from his advanced fellowship program at Emory University, where he received the full spectrum of training in robotic cardiac surgery under some of the first, and most experienced, robotic cardiac surgeons, worldwide.
A highly specialized approach, robotic heart surgery can provide patients with enhanced recovery, shorter hospital stays, and fewer complications compared to conventional methods. Robotics may be applied to treat mitral and tricuspid valve conditions, atrial fibrillation, and cardiac tumors, for low-risk surgical patients as well as high-risk patients with complex comorbidities.
Philosophy of Care
“Robotic surgery is an excellent option for a patient seeking better cosmesis, quicker recovery, and less post-surgical pain, without compromising the clinical result of surgery itself. I work closely with my colleagues to fully evaluate the benefits and potential risks for each case. My patients can always count on me to be honest with them –– to explain their situation and to help them understand their treatment options. My first priority is always the patient’s safety.”
Fellowships
- Advanced Robotic Cardiac Surgery, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia
- Advanced Adult Cardiac Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery, Tokyo Bay Urayasu Ichikawa Medical Center, Chiba, Japan
Residencies
- Cardiovascular Surgery, Ichinomiya Nishi Hospital, Aichi, Japan
- General Surgery, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
Medical school:
- Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
Clinical areas of focus
- Aneurysm Repair
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Cardiac Arrest
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Gastric Surgery
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Aneurysm Of Ascending Aorta
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Aneurysm Rupture
- Aortic Arch Aneurysm
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Complications Of Procedures
- Coronary Artery Blockage
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Marfan Syndrome
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Pleural Effusion
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Ventricular Aneurysm
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Aneurysm Repair
- Aortic Root Replacement
- Aortic Rupture Treatment
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Aortic Valve Supplement
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Atrial Septum Supplement
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Myxoma Excision
- Cardiac Output Assistance
- Cardiac Sampling And Pressure Measurement
- Cardiopulmonary Bypass
- Cardioversion
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Destruction Of Conduction Mechanism
- Electrophysiologic Study
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Gastric Surgery
- Heart Therapeutic Injection
- Heart Ultrasonography
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Treatment
- Internal Jugular Central Line Placement
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
- Intraaortic Balloon Pump Placement
- Leadless Pacemaker Insertion
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Mitral Balloon Valvuloplasty
- Mitral Valve Repair
- Occlusion Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Omentum Release
- Pacemaker Pulse Generator Insertion
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus Repair
- Permanent Pacemaker Insertion
- Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome Treatment
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
- Repair Right Ventricle
- Repair Tricuspid Valve
- Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Tricuspid Valve Supplement With Synthetic Substitute
- Tumor Resection And Reconstruction
- Valvuloplasty
- Ventricular Restoration
Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Sentara Health
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Choice Fund PPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- IH-POS
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Choice POS
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-POS Plus
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- POS OA
- MultiPlan, Inc
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Medicare Direct
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- IH-Indemnity
- Network OA
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Choice POS II
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- IH-PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CareFirst Administrators
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- TRICARE East Prime
- Tricare Reserve Select
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- UHC Passport
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- TRICARE East Select
- OA Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst EPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- IH-EPO Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- First Health PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Navigate
- TRICARE for Life East
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Beech Street PPO
- Employee Health Plan
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna HMO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- First Health PPO
- IH-Open POS II
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Aetna Basic
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- HumanaChoice PPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- IH-HMO
- United Healthcare Choice
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Core Essential (HMO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- IH-Open HMO
- HighMark
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CIGNA EPO
- IH-Open POS Plus
Videos
Education
Fellowship: Emory University Hospitals (2021)
Fellowship: Brigham and Womens Hospital (2020)
Fellowship: Iwate Prefectural Central Hospital (2018)
Residency: Anjo kosei Hospital (2013)
Residency: Japanese Red Cross Musashino Hospital (2012)
Medical School: Osaka University (2010)
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
Peer Reviewed Publications
- Kawano Y, Harloff M, Sameer H, Kaneko T. Early Outcomes of Trans-Atrial Mitral Valve Replacement in Severe Mitral Annular Calcification. JTCVS 2021 (In press)
- Kawano Y, Kanaoka Y, Hiraiwa N, Nakatsuka D, Tabata M. Emergency thoracic endovascular aortic repair with celiac artery coverage in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Journal of Vascular Surgery Cases and Innovative Techniques. 2017 June;3:57-9
- Kawano Y, Tabata M, Nakatsuka D, Hiraiwa N. A novel approach for emergency repair of intraoperative type A aortic dissection through a left thoracotomy. Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2016 Aug;102(2):e147-9.
- Kawano,Y, Tabata M. Postoperative management manual for cardiac surgery. Critical care management, 2019. (Japanese)
- Kawano Y, Tabata M. Surgery for left atrial appendage. Structural heart disease intervention complete guide 2019 May Chapter 3-3. (Japanese)
- Kawano Y, Tabata M. Surgical devices for minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS). Kyobu Geka 2018 Sep;71(10):788-793. (Japanese)
- Kawano Y , Tabata M. Pitfalls and tips of management about postoperative temporary pacemaker. Intensivist, 2016 Vol.8 Chapter 3: 33-40. (Japanese)
- Kawano Y, Yasui Y, Tsuchiya K, Muraoka Y, Tanaka K, Suzuki Y, et al. A case report of systemic amyloidosis diagnosed by liver biopsy. Journal of Japanese Society of Gastroenterology 2013;6:1030-7
- Hibino M, Katada Y, Shibayama K, Obunai K, Watanabe H, Kawano Y, et al. Recurrent aortic root pseudoaneurysm after transcatheter occlusion-A word of caution. J Card Surg. 2018 Apr;33(4):190-193
- Nishi T, Shibayama K, Tabata M, Kato N, Noguchi M, Kawano Y, et al. Accuracy and usefulness of aortic annular measurement using real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography: Comparison with direct surgical sizing. J Cariol. 2018 Mar;71(3):230-236.
- Nishida H, Nakatsuka D, Kawano Y, Hiraiwa N, Takanashi S, Tabata M. Outcomes of totally endoscopic atrial septal defect closure using a glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardial patch. Circ J. 2017 Apr 25;81(5):689-693.
- Noguchi M, Nakai T, Kawano Y, Shibayama K, Obunai K, Tabata M, et al. Delayed right ventricular defibrillation lead perforation presenting as cardiac tamponade and treated surgically.Clin Case Rep. 2017 Mar 2;5(4):458-462.
- Noguchi M, Tabata M, Ito J, Nakatsuka D, Kawano Y, Shibayama K, et al. Successfully treated nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia after transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Ann Thorac Surg. 2017 Feb;103(2):e171-e173.
- Katada Y, Ito J, Shibayama K, Nakatsuka D, Kawano Y, Watanabe H, et al. Transapical transcatheter closure of the pseudoaneurysm in the left ventricular outflow tract after aortic valve replacement. JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2016 Sep 26;9(18):e181-3.
- Tabata M, Hiraiwa N, Kawano Y, Nakatsuka D, Hoshino S. A Simple, Effective, and Inexpensive Technique for Exposure of Papillary Muscles in Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair: Wakka Technique. Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2015;100:e59-61.
- Tabata M, Nakatsuka D, Nishida H, Takanashi S, Hiraiwa N, Kawano Y. A Simple Nonresectional Technique for Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation With a Very Large Posterior Leaflet: Chordal Foldoplasty. Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2016;101:e179-81
- Kawano Y, Harloff M, Sameer H, Kaneko T. Outcomes of open trans-atrial TMVR in patients with severe mitral annular calcification. JATS 2020.
- Kawano Y, Morimura H, Nakanaga H, Watanabe S, Hiraiwa N, Tabata M. A case of transfemoral TAVI with multiple complications including annulus rupture. Complex Cardiovascular Therapeutics 2017.
- Kawano Y, Watanabe S, Nakanaga H, Morimura H, Shigetomi K, Hiraiwa N, Tabata M. Outcomes of TAVR with proactive alternative access use. The 70th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery 2017.
- Kawano Y, Tabata M, Nakatsuka D, Hibino M, Watanabe S, Shibayama K, et al. Effective evaluation of systolic anterior movement using intraoperative transesophageal echocardiogram after Morrow operation for HOCM. The 6th Local Meeting for Comprehensive Understanding of Cardiac Diseases 2016.
- Kawano Y, Tabata M, Nakatsuka D, Hibino M, Shibayama K, Watanabe H, et al. A case of mitral torn chordae after transapical aortic valve replacement. The 7th Annual Meeting of Japan Transcatheter Valve Therapies 2016.
- Kawano Y, Tabata M, Nakatsuka D, Hiraiwa N. Emergent thoracic endovascular aortic repair with iliac-to-hepatic artery bypass and celiac artery coverage in a patient with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. The 44th Annual Meeting of Japanese Society for Vascular Surgery 2016.
- Kawano Y, Tabata M, Nakatsuka D, Ito J. Career planning for young cardiovascular surgeons. The 46th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Cardiovascular Surgery 2016.
- Kawano Y, Tabata M, Nakatsuka D, Hiraiwa N. Focused strategy for early discharge after minimally invasive valve surgery. The 9th Meeting of Japan Association for Development of Community Medicine 2015.
- Kawano Y, Tabata M, Nakatsuka D, Hiraiwa N. Hybrid clamping technique for highly calcified abdominal aortic aneurysm. Kanto-Koshinetsu Local Meeting of The Japanese Circulation Society 2014.
- Kawano Y, Tabata M, Nakatsuka D, Hiraiwa N. Important role of nurse practitioner in a heart team. Complex Cardiovascular Therapeutics 2014.
- Kawano Y, Tabata M, Nakatsuka D, Hiraiwa N. Early surgical intervention improved femoral nerve dysfunction after minimally invasive valve surgery. Kanto-Koshinetsu Local Meeting of The Japanese Circulation Society 2014.
- Kawano Y, Hiramoto A, Hoshino R, Kaneko K, Koyanagi T. A case of giant left ventricular aneurysm after myocardial infarction. The 98th Tokai Local Meeting of Cardiovascular Surgery 2013.
- Kawano Y, Hiramoto A, Hoshino R, Koyanagi T. A case of effusive constrictive pericarditis improved after pericardial fenestration. The 141st Tokai Local Meeting of The Japanese Circulation Society 2013.
- Kawano Y, Hiramoto A, Hoshino R, Koyanagi T. Successful Dor procedure for ischemic cardiomyopathy as a bridge therapy to heart transplantation: case report. The 140th Tokai Local Meeting of The Japanese Circulation Society 2012.