Cardiac Surgery Center: World Class Care, Close to Home.

Missouri Baptist Medical Center continually ranks among the top hospitals for cardiac surgery in the nation. Known for exceptional heart surgery outcomes, we are one of the few programs in the U.S. to consistently receive the Society for Thoracic Surgeons' highest 3-star rating.

At Missouri Baptist you receive care from a multidisciplinary team of cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and cardiac nurses. The specialization of our team allows us to have an in-depth knowledge of cardiac diseases and treatments, paired with a dedication that allows us to treat the whole patient.

Our team of surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses have performed more than 22,000 heart surgeries since the program was established in 1984 making Missouri Baptist Medical Center the highest volume non-academic cardiac surgery center in Metro St. Louis.

Volume matters because research has shown that patients who have their cardiac surgery at surgical centers that perform a high volume of cardiac surgery have better outcomes than those patients who go to a low volume center. Our cardiac surgery program outcomes exceed several national quality benchmarks according to the Society of Thoracic Surgery (STS) data registry, the largest cardiac surgery registry in the world.

To make an appointment to speak with a cardiac surgeon call 314-996-5287.

Cardiac Surgery at Missouri Baptist:

For those conditions requiring surgery, our Cardiac Surgery Center offers decades of experience in providing a full range of traditional and minimally invasive procedures. Our highly specialized team of surgeons and cardiologists review patient cases in a collaborative environment to develop individualized treatment plans for each patient.

• Aneurysm Repair – A lifesaving surgical procedure that is used to replace a weakened and “bulging” section (aneurysm) in the aorta.
• Aortic Valve Repair or Replacement – Two surgical procedures performed to reestablish efficient one-way flow of blood through this critical heart valve. The most appropriate surgical approach is tailored to each patient’s condition.
• Atrial Fibrillation Surgery – Several surgical options are available to treat atrial fibrillation and thereby restore patients to a regular heart rhythm and reduce or eliminate the symptoms associated with atrial fibrillation, a leading cause of heart failure and stroke.
• Congenital Heart Surgery in Adults – Prior repairs of congenital cardiac defects may require additional procedures throughout adulthood. These procedures correct heart defects present from birth that can disrupt the normal flow of blood through the heart. The defects can involve the walls of the heart, the valves of the heart and the arteries and veins near the heart.
• Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) – During this most common open-heart surgery, a blood vessel from the leg, arm or chest wall is used to bypass a diseased coronary artery. This creates a new route for blood to flow, so that the heart muscle will get the oxygen-rich blood it needs to function properly.
• Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery – Less invasive alternative to traditional open-heart surgery, these procedures use smaller incisions in the chest wall to reach the heart and often allow for a shorter hospital stay and recovery. This approach is available for aortic and mitral valve repair and replacement, as well as some aneurysm repairs.
• Mitral Valve Repair or Replacement – These surgical treatments restore normal function of the valve by correcting leaks and/or restoring normal opening of the valve. When appropriate, valve repair is often preferred over replacement, as it can reduce the need for additional valve surgeries in the future and provide protection against valve infections. Replacement surgery is available for patients that are not candidates for valve repair.
• The Ross Procedure – A cardiac surgery operation where a diseased aortic valve is replaced with the person's own pulmonary valve. A pulmonary homograft is then used to replace the patient's own pulmonary valve.
• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) – First approved for inoperable patients in 2011 and now available for most patients with aortic stenosis, this procedure allows a team of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons to insert a new valve inside the diseased valve without open heart surgery. The new valve is put in place using a catheter that is most commonly inserted through a groin artery. Alternatively, the catheter may sometimes be inserted through the carotid or arm artery and rarely through a small incision in the chest.
• Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair – Often referred as a MitraClip™, this minimally invasive procedure is a treatment option for some patients with a leaky mitral valve and is done with a catheter-based approach in the groin.
• Vascular Surgeries – Surgeries are performed through open heart surgery or stents to treat a wide range of severe and chronic conditions to restore blood flow to the upper extremities or the brain.

To make an appointment to speak with a cardiac surgeon call 314-996-5287.