Traditional Bypass Surgery

Oklahoma Heart Institute is a leader in Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG). Often known simply as bypass surgery, this procedure is used to improve and, in some cases, restore blood flow to the heart muscle after a blockage has developed. Arteries from the chest and veins from the leg are used to bypass the blockages. While CABG is one of the most common procedures performed at Oklahoma Heart Institute, our surgical team approaches each case with uncommon expertise and care.

A Pioneering New Device

Continuing a long tradition of bringing the latest advances in cardiac care to Tulsa, Oklahoma Heart Institute is among the first hospitals in the nation to utilize a new technology that makes recovery from open heart surgery safer and less painful.

Co-developed by Oklahoma Heart Institute cardiovascular surgeon James Spann, M.D., the Rapid Sternal Closure Talon System creates a more stable closure of the chest following cardiac surgery and results in less post-operative bleeding and improved recovery time.

Valve Surgery

With hundreds of years of combined experience, the cardiovascular surgeons at Oklahoma Heart Institute are highly skilled in heart valve repair and replacement. We have treated thousands of patients experiencing valve problems including congenital disorders, stenosis (narrowing of a valve), infection and regurgitation (leaking of a valve).

Valve surgery is often necessary when one or more of the heart’s four major valves that regulate the flow of blood do not work properly. The procedure allows surgeons to repair the valve or replace it with one made of animal material or metal.

During traditional valve surgery, the patient is placed on a heart and lung machine while the chest is opened and the heart is stopped, allowing surgeons to repair or replace the damaged valve.

MAZE Procedure

In addition to lifesaving surgeries, Oklahoma Heart Institute also offers many procedures designed to enhance patients’ quality of life. The MAZE procedure, which is used to treat atrial fibrillation, can eliminate debilitating symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath while reducing the risk of stroke. During the MAZE, a scope is used to make small incisions that allow access to the heart and disrupt the abnormal electrical impulses that cause A-Fib. This minimally invasive procedure is available to patients who meet the criteria and can reduce recovery time.

AAA Repair

Oklahoma Heart Institute is proud to offer endovascular graft surgery, a minimally-invasive procedure to repair abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Often symptomless, AAA occurs when a worn section of the aorta becomes permanently dilated. If left untreated, the aneurysm can rupture with deadly results.

In the past, major abdominal surgery was the only alternative for patients diagnosed with AAA. Today, surgeons at Oklahoma Heart Institute can repair AAA using a minimally invasive technique that requires a shorter hospital stay and often results in fewer complications.