Cardiothoracic Surgery

McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center has earned a distinguished three-star rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for its patient care and outcomes in isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures.

Cardiothoracic surgery treats conditions of the heart, lungs and chest. Based on the severity of symptoms, your physician may recommend that you see a cardiothoracic specialist. Adults experiencing cardiovascular disease, heart valve problems or lung cancer may benefit from cardiothoracic surgery.  

Services

At McKenzie Heart Group, we offer a variety of treatment options ranging from traditional surgery to minimally invasive procedures.

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). During this procedure, a blood vessel is taken from another part of the body and used to bypass a blocked artery. This creates a new pathway for blood and oxygen to reach the heart.

Lung surgery. Used to repair or remove damaged lung tissue.

Common procedures include:

• A piece of abnormal lung tissue is removed to examine for possible cancer growth.
• Removal of a lobe of the lung that is damaged due to lung cancer, infection or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Removal of the entire lung. Depending on the extent of the disease, a surgeon may recommend complete removal as the best option.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. A traditional CABG uses a heart-lung machine that acts as an artificial circulation system. During an off-pump procedure, surgeons perform a bypass without a machine and while the heart is still pumping.

Valve repair or replacement. Open-heart surgery or other minimally invasive methods are used to repair damaged heart valves.

Common procedures include:

• Balloon valvuloplasty. A catheter with a balloon attached is inserted into a tight valve. The balloon expands to open the valve and allow for better blood flow.