Clinical Expertise

At UCI School of Medicine, our faculty performs coronary bypass surgery for coronary artery disease, including total arterial vascularization when indicated. 

For patients with valve disease, we offer valve repair or replacement through open heart surgery, minimally invasive procedures or transcatheter techniques (TAVR/MitraClips). The cardiac surgical division is particularly skilled in treating valvular bacterial endocarditis, with experience that greatly exceeds that of other centers in the area.

In addition to standard repair of aortic aneurysms detected incidentally or by screening, the cardiac surgery faculty members provide emergency repair of aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections.

In patients with atrial fibrillation, our cardiac surgery team may perform ablative (Cox-Maze) procedures (cryo- or radiofrequency), either during other open heart surgery or via minimally invasive techniques. 

At UCI, the surgical treatments available for heart failure include placement of biventricular pacemakers and left ventricular assist devices. We use vein-to-vein ECMO to treat severe respiratory failure and utilize Impella devices or vein-to-artery ECMO for short-term treatment of cardiogenic shock.

The UCI School of Medicine cardiac surgery faculty manages pericardial effusions with the creation of a pericardial window and drain placement.