About Ohio State’s Division of Cardiac Surgery
The Ohio State Heart and Vascular Center cardiac surgery team brings together highly skilled surgeons, the most advanced technology and world-class facilities to deliver exceptional surgical heart care.
We specialize in the treatment of the most complex cardiac surgery patients with less invasive therapies, complex reoperations, coronary artery bypass surgery, heart valve surgery, aortic surgery, endovascular and transcatheter procedures, heart and lung transplantation, mechanical circulatory support and ECMO. Our faculty are leaders in the education and training of the next generation of cardiac surgeons attracting the best and the brightest to our Cardiothoracic Fellowship Program. Our researchers focus on the development of new and less invasive therapies to prevent and treat heart disease.
Our team of highly skilled cardiac surgeons are focused on pushing the forefront of research and procedures to advance our field and the care we provide our patients. As a high-volume quaternary referral center, we tackle some of the most complex patient cases in the state and surrounding region.
As central Ohio’s only adult transplant center, we feature a robust heart and lung transplant program as well as a large mechanical circulatory support program evaluating the most advanced therapies for our patients.
Ohio State provides a range of distinguished programs that distinguish us from other medical centers. Our key areas of excellence include the following:
Structural Heart and Valvular Heart Disease
The Ohio State University Heart and Vascular Center’s Structural Heart Disease Program is recognized for offering patients with heart valve disease cutting-edge treatments. As a research leader, the program has been involved in almost every major clinical trial for innovative therapies in structural heart disease, especially transcatheter aortic valve replacement.
Advanced Heart Failure
Ohio State’s Heart and Vascular Center operates the most comprehensive advanced heart failure treatment program in central Ohio, managing care for over 2,000 heart failure patients annually. The Center provides access to all available therapeutic options, including LVAD and Total Artificial Heart implants, as well as heart transplantation.
Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Ohio State’s Adult Congenital Heart Disease program offers seamless transition for patients moving from pediatric to adult congenital care. Our partnership with the cardiac surgery team at the renowned Nationwide Children’s Hospital allows us to work in tandem to perform complex procedures on patients here at the Ross Heart Hospital.
Aortic Center
The Ohio State Aortic Center combines the expertise of highly skilled physicians including cardiac surgeons, vascular surgeons and cardiologists to provide a tailored approach to each patient’s care. This includes conventional surgery and new, minimally invasive procedures. In addition to scheduled aortic procedures, the Aortic Center also provides treatment for emergent and life threatening aneurysms.
Coronary Revascularization
As a tertiary referral center, our surgeons handle the most challenging cases from throughout the state and region. Coronary revascularization at Ohio State includes both Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) and total arterial anaortic off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (OPCABG). This specialized procedure—which is not available elsewhere in the state—is intended for older patients with complex health conditions that make traditional surgery especially risky.
Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) Program
We provide ECLS or ECMO therapy when ventilators or hemodynamic support haven’t significantly improved a patient’s condition. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is a high-volume ECMO center capable of managing complex end-stage heart and/or lung failure, treating over 100 patients annually with ECMO. Our highly skilled team works under the direction of Ohio State cardiac surgeons and critical care anesthesiologists.More about the division
Faculty Spotlight
Making more organs available for lung transplants
Division director, transplant surgeon and researcher Bryan Whitson, MD, PhD, is pushing the limits of transplant science.Aortic aneurysms: A silent killer and the surgeon fighting back
