When you have a heart condition that requires surgical treatment, you need a team of experts on your side to get you treated quickly and professionally. Ohio State’s heart and vascular surgeons offer the latest in cardiac surgery for a wide range of heart conditions, close to home in Columbus.

The academic difference

Our team of skilled cardiac surgeons (sometimes referred to as cardiothoracic surgeons) trained at some of the most highly regarded institutions around the world and continue to bring the most advanced techniques and skills to Ohio State. Each of our surgeons performs a variety of procedures and specialize in unique areas that allow us to serve the full spectrum of cardiac surgical needs for our patients. We offer treatments from the simplest procedures to the most complex, including open-heart surgeries, heart and lung transplantation, placement of heart pumps and even total artificial heart procedures. And because we are an academic medical center, our surgeons are leading or participating in research and clinical trials to develop and test new lifesaving surgical options.

Conditions we treat

We treat the full range of heart conditions, including:

• Endocarditis is a condition that occurs when the inner lining of the heart becomes infected. The heart team at Ohio State treats this condition with a combination of antibiotic medications or heart valve surgery.
• Pericardial effusion is a condition that occurs due to a buildup of fluid in the sac that surrounds the heart. Cardiologists at Ohio State are experienced in treatment for this heart condition, which may include a combination of medications and heart surgery.

Pioneering the most advanced surgical treatments

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 guide our patients through a personalized journey to deliver the right surgical treatment – whether it’s a traditional heart surgery or a minimally invasive surgery – that will deliver the best outcome for you.

Bypass procedures

When a vein is no longer allowing blood to flow through, your cardiologist may recommend that you undergo a bypass procedure to reroute the flow of blood. Our surgeons offer coronary artery bypass, mesenteric artery bypass and other types of surgical bypass to treat various heart conditions.

Robotic and minimally invasive procedures

Robotic heart surgery and minimally invasive heart and vascular surgery involve a surgeon making one or more small incisions using specially designed instruments. It does not require cutting open the chest and dividing the breastbone, as does traditional heart surgery. Because it’s less invasive, this surgery offers many benefits including quicker recovery, less pain and trauma after surgery, and quicker return home.

Offering the Columbus area’s most advanced surgical options

Ohio State Heart and Vascular Center is home to central Ohio’s only adult heart transplant program, which has provided more than 500 lifesaving heart transplants. In addition to heart transplantation, Ohio State has a robust program specializing in the implantation and management of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) as a bridge to heart transplant. Ohio State cardiac surgeons are also skilled at using minimally invasive procedures and robotic surgery techniques for some procedures, which result in less trauma and faster recovery for our patients. 

Open heart procedures

Our surgeons are also skilled in various types of open-heart surgeries, which require larger cuts in the chest and typically treat more complex or emergency conditions. One type of open procedures we perform is ventricular restoration surgery, in which the surgeon restores the heart to a more normal shape and size following a heart attack. Our cardiac surgeons are also experienced in performing septal myectomy, which they use to treat cardiomyopathy (thick heart muscle) by removing excess muscle from around the heart.