Advanced surgical techniques to reduce risks and minimize recovery time
Traditional heart surgery requires the surgeon to make a large incision in the chest and cut through the breastbone. Minimally invasive heart surgery allows for smaller incisions that are only three to four inches long.
The experts in our cardiac surgery program are trained in a full range of minimally invasive procedures. They collaborate on clinical trials to test the latest technologies and techniques. We provide options for many conditions, when other doctors have said surgery is not an option.
Some minimally invasive heart procedures we offer include:
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Cardiac ablation to treat arrhythmias
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Implanting closure devices to treat structural heart defects
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Valve repair or replacement, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
Minimally invasive heart surgery may provide benefits such as:
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Less pain
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Lower risk of bleeding, which reduces the chances of needing a blood transfusion
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Lower risk of infection
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Shorter recovery time
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Smaller scars
Conditions
Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
An atrial septal defect (ASD) is a hole in the wall that separates the top two chambers of the heart (atria), allowing blood to leak between the chambers.
Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO)
Patent foramen ovale is a congenital heart condition in which the naturally occurring opening between the heart’s upper chambers does not close after birth.
Pulmonary Atresia
Pulmonary atresia is a congenital heart disorder that causes malformation of the valve controlling blood flow to your lungs.
Tests
Cardiac Catheterization
Cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive way to diagnose and treat a variety of heart and vascular conditions by guiding thin, flexible tubes called catheters through blood vessels to problem areas.
Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
The cardiac computed tomography scan, or cardiac CT, uses X-rays to create three-dimensional images of your heart and blood vessels.
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of your heart.
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
An electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, measures the heart’s electrical activity.
Stress Tests
Stress tests are used to assess how your heart works during physical activity. There are several types of stress tests, including treadmill or bike stress tests, nuclear stress tests, stress echocardiograms, and chemically induced stress tests.
Our providers
Location: Change location Enter your location
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Thelma Dianne Aguilar, AGACNP
Cardiac Surgery
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Keki Balsara, MD
Cardiac Surgery
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Cierra Bruck, PA-C
Cardiac Surgery
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Ashley Chenoweth, AGACNP-BC
Cardiac Surgery
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Jeffrey E. Cohen, MD
Cardiac Surgery
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Laura Lee Cramer-Joyce, CRNP
Cardiac Surgery
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Carolin Hanna, AGACNP-BC
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Rachel E Harrison, MD
Cardiac Surgery
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Maria Gina Heyrana, CRNP
Cardiac Surgery
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Dureaden Khan, PA
Cardiac Surgery
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Kathleen J. Lavery, ACNP-BC, MSN, APRN
Cardiac Surgery
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Thomas Edward MacGillivray, MD
Cardiac Surgery
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Stacey Elizabeth Miller, ANP-BC
Cardiac Surgery
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Susan Thornton Oyola, AGACNP-BC
Cardiac Surgery
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Christian Charles Shults, MD
Valvular Disease Cardiology, Structural Heart Disease Cardiology & Cardiac Surgery
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Elizabeth C. Sullivan, ANP-BC, CRNP
Cardiac Surgery
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Our locations
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MedStar Union Memorial Hospital
201 E. University Pkwy. Baltimore, MD 21218
Related services
Ask MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute
Have general questions for our heart and vascular program? Email us at AskMHVI@medstar.net. If you have clinically-specific questions, please contact your physician’s office.