Aortic Surgery
All aspects of aortic surgery are performed at Deborah including repair of aneurysms of the ascending, descending and abdominal aorta, correction of aortic dissection, replacement of the aortic root and replacement of the aortic arch. Many of these procedures have been successfully performed with the aid of circulatory arrest and retrocerebral protection of the brain.

Cardiothoracic Surgery Services

Coronary Artery Surgery
Coronary artery surgery is performed at Deborah utilizing the latest techniques of cardiopulmonary bypass to perform either an arterial bypass or mixed arterial and reversed saphenous vein grafting as indicated. Deborah's cardiac surgery team uses the most advanced techniques of myocardial protection, surgical technique, extracorporeal perfusion, anesthetic management, blood conservation, and perioperative care.

Deborah surgeons also offer videoscopic saphenous vein harvesting, a minimally invasive technique to remove the saphenous vein for bypass surgery. The cardiac surgery service has successfully treated numerous patients who are Jehovah's Witnesses and cannot receive blood products.

Valve Repair or Replacement
Deborah offers the latest and safest refined surgical techniques for cardiac valve reconstruction. Many valve conditions result in valvular dysfunction, manifested by stenosis, incompetence or both. Generally, valve reconstruction surgery is more suited (or applicable) for correction of mitral and/or tricuspid valve dysfunction. In a smaller patient population of selected cases, the aortic valve may be amenable to valve repair.

Valve Replacement
When, in the course of a disease process, a cardiac valve develops irreparable damage, excision of the diseased valve and replacement with a mechanical or biological prosthesis is the only option. Deborah has used cardiac valve substitutes since 1963, and utilizes various state-of-the-art cardiac valve prostheses, designed to suit every individual's need, disease process or patient's age. These cardiac valve substitutes come singly, for isolated valve replacement, or attached to a graft conduit for treatment of aortic disease associated with ascending aortic aneurysm. Deborah was the first hospital in the Northeast to establish a human heart valve bank. Cardiac valvular surgery accounts for over twenty-five percent of the department's practice.