Loma Linda University Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery is comprised of a team of experts dedicated to improving patient health. With decades of clinical experience, our surgeons are leaders in the surgical treatment of all types of diseases of the chest.

Our surgeons use the most advanced equipment and latest surgical techniques including minimally invasive surgery and video-assisted thoracic surgery to achieve the best possible outcomes. With decades of clinical experience, our surgeons along with the support of cardiologists, nurse practitioners and other specialists perform the most straightforward to the most complex cardiothoracic procedures on adults, children and newborns.

Procedures Performed

Adult Cardiac Surgery

Surgery for Heart Valves

  • Aortic valve repair/replace
  • Mitral valve repair/replace
  • Pulmonary valve repair/replace
  • Tricuspid valve repair/replace
  • Valve sparing aortic root surgery
  • Minimally invasive valve surgery
  • Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
  • Valve surgery for endocarditis

Surgery for Coronary Artery Disease

  • Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) on-pump
  • Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) or
  • Beating heart surgery (off-pump)
  • Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass
  • Graft (CABG)

Surgery for Aortic Disease

  • Aortic dissection (acute or chronic)
  • Aortic aneurysms
  • Marfan’s syndrome
  • Endovascular therapy (approach)

Surgery for Heart Failure

Surgery for Heart Arrhythmia’s (Rhythm Disorders)

  • MAZE ablation in combination with other valve surgery
  • Total thoracoscopic MAZE procedure

Thoracic Surgery

Minimally Invasive Lung Surgery

  • Lobectomy
  • Segmentectomy
  • Pneumonectomy
  • Chest wall resection

Minimally Invasive Esophageal Surgery

  • Esophagectomy (MIE)
  • Nissen / re-do Nissen
  • Giant paraesophageal hernia
  • Esophagomyotomy (Heller)
  • Diverticula / Zenker’s
  • Esophageal perforation

Endoscopic Esophageal Surgery

  • Flexible esophagoscopy
  • Rigid esophagoscopy
  • Foreign body retrieval
  • Stricture dilation
  • Stenting
  • Fistula closure
  • Feeding access

Endoscopic Airway Surgery

  • Flexible bronchoscopy
  • EBUS
  • Rigid bronchoscopy
  • Foreign body retrieval
  • Stenting
  • Laser ablation
  • Stricture dilation

Chest Wall

  • Rib resection
  • Chest wall tumor
  • Soft tissue chest wall tumor
  • Pectus carinatum (open/minimally invasive)
  • Pectus excavatum (open/minimally invasive)

Mediastinum

  • Anterior mediastinal mass (benign/malignant)
  • Posterior mediastinal mass (benign/malignant)
  • Middle mediastinal mass (benign/malignant)

Tracheal Surgery

  • Malignant tracheal resection
  • Benign tracheal resection

Sympathectomy

  • Hyperhidrosis

Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery

Heart Defects that Reduce Blood Oxygen

  • Tetralogy of fallot
  • Transposition of the great arteries
  • Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC)
  • Truncus arteriosis

Acquired Heart and Coronary artery Defects

  • Hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy
  • Myocarditis
  • Endocarditis
  • Pericarditis
  • Kawasaki disease
  • Aneurysms of the aorta
  • Abnormal origin of a coronary artery

Holes Between Chambers of the Heart

  • Atrial septal defect (ASD)
  • Patent foramen ovale (PFO)
  • Patent ductus arteriosis (PDA)
  • Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
  • Atrio-ventricular canal

Heart Valve Defects and Obstructions to Circulation

  • Aortic valve stenosis and/or regurgitation
  • Mitral valve and/or regurgitation
  • Pulmonary valve and/or regurgitation
  • Coarctation of the aorta

Surgery for Heart Rhythm Disorders

  • Pacemaker
  • Ablation

Hearts With Only One Pumping Chamber

  • Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
  • Tricuspid atresia
  • Univentricular hearts