Cardiothoracic Surgery

Introduction

The Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Tufts-New England Medical Center provides care for adult patients undergoing cardiac and thoracic surgery as well as for children at the Center's Floating Hospital who require congenital heart surgery. Well-known for its excellent results in high-risk patients, the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery is part of the multidisciplinary Tufts-New England Heart Center that provides cardiac services that cover the spectrum from preventive cardiology, interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, and heart failure to complex open-heart surgery in one setting. We have a Medicare-approved heart transplantation program and have become one of the largest circulatory assist centers in the region, serving as a hub for transfer of patients receiving temporary assist devices.

The United Resource Network and other managed care organizations recognize Tufts-New England Heart Center's cardiovascular care as one of the facility's leading multidisciplinary centers. The Tufts-New England Medical Center's outstanding care is also recognized by its membership in the National Cardiovascular Network, which is limited to programs with excellent surgical results. Tufts-New England Heart Center is also one of the founding members of the Academic Medical Center Consortium, a group of 12 major academic institutions nationwide that helped establish universal criteria for coronary bypass surgery and angioplasty. This organization provided data that have been used for benchmarking results and other quality-of-care issues.

Who are We?

The Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery consists of five board-certified cardiothoracic surgeons who anchor the team that cares for all cardiac patients. Four surgeons are dedicated to cardiac surgery and have extensive experience with surgical decision-making, operative procedures, and perioperative care. The Tufts-New England Medical Center's cardiothoracic team has become a leader in providing off-pump bypass surgery and has expertise in the following:

• Valve repairs (aortic, mitral, tricuspid)
• Ross procedures for aortic valve replacement
• Minimally invasive surgery (off-pump CABGs, MIDCABs, aortic and mitral surgery)
• Ventricular reconstructive surgery
• Complex congenital heart disease in neonates and older children
• Thoracic aortic surgery
• Circulatory assist devices (Abiomed, Thoratec, Heartmate)
• Heart transplantation

One staff member is devoted entirely to noncardiac thoracic surgery, which is an integrated service within the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. As members of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, we work closely with the pulmonary service, oncologists, and radiation oncologists in providing multidisciplinary care to patients with lung cancer. The full spectrum of thoracic surgery is performed, including video-assisted thoracic surgery and esophageal surgery. Our results in cancer patients have been among the best reported in the literature.

The Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery has a two-year accredited Residency program accepting one resident per year. Having a teaching program strengthens the academic environment that keeps us at the forefront of knowledge and techniques. It also ensures optimal patient care coverage around the clock.