Guide to Hybrid Cardiac Surgery

Hybrid cardiac surgery combines cardiac surgery with an interventional (catheter-based) approach. Hybrid procedures facilitate minimally invasive approaches to surgery in lieu of a traditional chest incision (sternotomy). In high-risk patients and re-operative patients, risky surgical procedures may be converted to a less complex surgery combined with an interventional procedure. Using the surgical robot with these types of procedures results in very small incisions, less pain, quicker recovery times, and a high level of patient satisfaction compared to traditional surgical approaches.

In light of these surgical advancements, important questions regarding optimal treatment must now be asked, such as: Are patients with advanced coronary disease better served by coronary artery bypass surgery, by percutaneous coronary intervention, or both? Should elderly patients with aortic stenosis undergo surgical aortic valve replacement or transcatheter aortic valve replacement? Can we combine surgical and interventional approaches to treat valvular disease, heart failure or aortic aneurysms? In this era of aging patients with increasingly complex cardiac conditions, we believe it is imperative to provide innovative and less invasive solutions to treat cardiac diseases.

The Hybrid Coronary Program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia has extensive experience performing hybrid, endovascular/percutaneous procedures. Our team includes Isaac George, MD, one of just four surgeons nationally with full training in Cardiac Surgery and Interventional Cardiology. This dual training and breadth of skills allows our program to assess and treat patients without bias, particularly when counseling patients on valve, coronary, and aortic disease. Using this experience, our team creates a personalized surgical plan for each patient that takes advantage of the best of cardiac surgery and the best of cardiology, and most importantly, does not compromise quality or outcomes. Our specialized resources have allowed these innovative procedures to be performed safely, effectively, and quickly.

Robotic LIMA-LAD incisionIn addition to standard coronary and valve procedures, our team specializes in:

  • Hybrid Valve + Coronary stenting (PCI) procedures (including re-operative cases)
  • Complex re-operative valve surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery (Aortic, Mitral, Tricuspid)
  • Robotic-Assisted, Single Vessel (LIMA-LAD) Minimally Invasive CABG (MIDCAB)
  • Hybrid MIDCAB + PCI procedures
  • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
  • Aortic Aneurysm Surgery
  • Thoracic Endografting (TEVAR)

The Hybrid Cardiac Surgery Team includes Isaac George, MD (cardiothoracic surgery), Tamim Nazif, MD (Interventional Cardiology), Susheel Kodali, MD (Interventional Cardiology)

To learn if you are a candidate for hybrid cardiac surgery, call us at (212) 305-4134 or use our online request form.

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