The idea of undergoing open-heart surgery can be unsettling. That’s why interventional cardiology and surgery specializes in treating heart conditions using minimally invasive procedures. Minimally invasive surgical procedures use smaller incisions and can be a good option for certain heart conditions. At Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Cardiovascular Institute, our surgeons and interventional cardiologists are nationally recognized for their expertise in performing minimally invasive heart surgery and interventional procedures.
During a minimally invasive heart surgery, the heart is accessed via small incisions made in the chest wall. By avoiding a full sternotomy (complete division of the breastbone), there is less trauma and damage to muscle, tissue, and bone. In some cases, the procedure can be performed without the need for a heart and lung bypass machine.
We perform hundreds of lifesaving minimally invasive heart procedures every year with outstanding results. This approach offers several advantages compared to open-heart procedures, including:
Minimally invasive heart procedures aren't right for everyone. Our multidisciplinary team consisting of cardiologists, surgeons, radiologists, and primary care physicians, will evaluate your individual situation to determine the best treatment option for you. We offer:
We offer expertise in minimally invasive treatments for valvular disease, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), MitraClip™ mitral valve repair, and balloon valvuloplasty. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure for heart valve replacement. Your physician inserts a thin, hollow tube called a catheter into a blood vessel in your groin or upper body, through which a new valve is delivered. MitraClip™ is another catheter-based procedure used to repair a leaking heart valve. Balloon valvuloplasty is performed by our interventional cardiologists, using a balloon to open up a narrowed heart valve. We also participate in a number of clinical trials, which allow us to offer our patients access to cutting-edge technology for minimally invasive heart valve repair and replacement.
Your physician uses small incisions in the chest wall and a tiny camera called a thoracoscope to perform surgery on the heart.
This is a catheter-based procedure where a stent is delivered through the artery in your groin to repair an injured or aneurysmal (dilated) aorta.
The WATCHMAN™ device lowers stroke risk in people with heart arrythmias who can’t use blood thinners.
Our physicians perform robotic heart surgery for heart valve replacement and repair through small incisions in the chest.
Our physicians perform ablation of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation, the most common arrhythmia. AHN physicians were the first in the region to perform ablations without using fluoroscopy or radiation as an atrial fibrillation treatment option.
AHN physicians are experts at closure of intracardiac shunts, including patent foramen ovale (PFO), atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect (VSD), and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).
Specializing in pulmonary hypertension treatment, we are the largest program in the region, and one of only 20 programs in the country, performing this procedure for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).
AHN Cardiovascular Institute surgeons and cardiologists can perform life-sustaining procedures for cardiogenic shock using minimally invasive techniques.
Call (412) DOCTORS (412) 362-8677 or request an appointment see an AHN cardiologist.
WATCHMAN™ is a trademark of Boston Scientific Corporation and is used with permission.
MitraClip™ is a trademark of Abbott and is used with permission.
