Surgical Treatments

If you require heart surgery, our staff will work with you to educate and prepare you for your procedure. St. Joseph's Hospital offers the following heart surgery procedures.

Coronary artery bypass

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) is performed on the heart to restore healthy circulation. A graft from a vein in your leg or an artery in your chest or arm is used to re-route blood around diseased arteries in the heart. When necessary, several arteries in the heart can be bypassed during a single operation.

This surgery is usually extremely successful, even when it entails several grafts. Even patients who are elderly, have diabetes or have extensive heart disease experience good outcomes. The goal for bypass is increased blood flow and decreased symptoms. About 90 percent of patients experience relief of chest pain (angina) after the procedure.

Valve repair and replacement

This surgical procedure is done to improve heart circulation by fixing the existing heart valve or replacing it with a mechanical (manufactured) or porcine (pig) valve.
This surgery may be done in combination with bypass grafting.

After surgery

Following heart surgery, you will go to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, then to the Cardiac Telemetry Unit, receiving cardiac rehabilitation throughout. Nursing staff from each of these areas have been specially trained and work together to help our Heart Care patients recover.