Heart and vascular surgery

Surgical procedures we perform to treat heart diseases and disorders include:

• Aneurysm repair
• Atrial septal defect
• Cardioversion (for AFib)
• Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
• Carotid endarterectomy
• Endovascular repair
• Maze surgery (for AFib)
• Peripheral stenting
• Valve repair/replacement

Heart disease therapies

In addition to our heart surgeons performing routine cardiac procedures, in our program, you have access to new and innovative therapies for treating heart disease, including:

• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) — The ECMO machine may be used when your heart cannot pump enough blood to your body. If you are suffering from heart failure, the ECMO pump can be lifesaving.
• Mechanical cardiovascular support — A type of assistive device, we use one of the world’s smallest mechanical cardiovascular support systems to sustain a weak heart by pumping oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body.
• Patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure — A PFO closure is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a catheter to insert a special device to close the hole in the heart and stop abnormal blood flow. As an added benefit, compared to open-heart surgery, a PFO closure procedure does not require an extensive recovery period.
• Transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR)— TMVR is a minimally invasive technique used to treat mitral regurgitation. It can be particularly beneficial if you have severe degenerative mitral regurgitation, but may be too high-risk for open-heart surgery.

Vascular diseases are dangerous and may not have apparent symptoms the way other diseases do. In fact, you may not know you need to see a vascular specialist or even be aware of the preventive steps you can take to reduce your risk of vascular disease.

Diagnosing vascular disease

We use advanced imaging to determine the source of the problem. Some of these noninvasive exams include:

• Computerized tomography angiography (CTA)
• Magnetic resonance imaging/angiography (MRI/A)
• Vascular ultrasound

Vascular and endovascular surgical procedures

In many cases, vascular conditions can be treated without large surgical incisions. As such, our vascular surgeons offer a number of minimally invasive procedures that accomplish the same result with numerous benefits to you, as well as reduced recovery time.

Minimally invasive and traditional open vascular surgeries we use to treat vascular conditions include:

• Bypass surgery and endovascular therapy for peripheral artery disease and gangrene of the limbs
• Carotid endarterectomy, carotid artery stenting and transcervical carotid stenting
• Endovascular and open surgical reconstruction for deep vein occlusions
• Endovascular and open surgical treatment for peripheral artery aneurysms
• Endovascular or open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms, thoracic aortic aneurysms and thoracoabdominal aneurysms, including fenestrated stent grafts
• Endovascular repair of thoracic aortic dissections
• Endovenous laser therapy treatment or perforator surgery for varicose veins and venous ulcers
• Hemodialysis access, including femoral vein fistulas
• Open surgical reconstructions and endovascular surgical interventions, such as balloon angioplasty and stenting in all vascular areas
• Treatment of carotid body tumors and other vascular tumors
• Treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome

Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR)

TCAR is a new, innovative procedure designed to reduce the risk of stroke or treat you when you've already experienced a stroke. During a TCAR procedure, a small incision (much smaller than a typical carotid endarterectomy incision) is used to place a stent in the artery.

We are one of the first hospitals in Colorado to offer the TCAR procedure and other minimally invasive treatment options for vascular disease.

Wound care and limb preservation program

At our on-site Wound Care Center, we provide immediate and emergency care when you have experienced an extremity wound or serious traumatic injury. This supports one of the major goals of our vascular program, which is to reduce the need for amputation by providing early intervention for when you have vascular disease.