Cedars-Sinai Heart Center

For 30 years, Cedars-Sinai has been a pioneer in diagnosing and treating heart disease. We started the first heart surgery program in the Western United States. We were the first American medical center to do video-assisted thoracoscopy on children. We were the first in the Southwestern United States to use transmyocardial laser revascularization. And we were the second in the nation to introduce the St. Jude valve. More information about our cardiac programs and services can be found at Cedars-Sinai Heart Center.

Our surgeons have done more than 20,000 heart procedures on adults and children. Our results rank among the best in the nation. U.S. News and World Report magazine rated Cedars-Sinai among the best medical centers in the United States for cardiology and heart surgery.

Our programs and services include:

Cardiac Diagnostic and Therapeutic Services

Cedars-Sinai heart doctors have been leaders in ways of treating heart disease that don't involve surgery. These techniques include the Swan-Ganz catheter, Excimer laser angioplasty, coronary stenting, arrhythmia ablation, septal ablation, pacemakers and defibrillator implants. We've also found a way to use medical genetics to stop and undo artery blockages. We're now researching a gene that may play a role in the build-up of plaque in the arteries.

Cedars-Sinai uses many ways to find and treat heart disease. These include evaluation, treatment and dietary counseling. We use the latest noninvasive cardiology and surgical procedures practiced today. By using these methods, we can lower risks and complications and speed recovery.

At Cedars-Sinai, we offer:

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Cardiovascular Intervention Center

Some of the most advanced heart procedures that don't involve surgery are done at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Children and adults are treated here using:

  • Diagnostic cardiac catheterization
  • Coil embolization
  • Coronary atherectomy
  • Coronary stent placement
  • Excimer Laser coronary angioplasty
  • Myocardial biopsy
  • Pediatric angioplasty and other pediatric interventional procedures
  • Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)
  • Septostomy
  • Valvuloplasty

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Cardiac Surgery

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: As of 2000, Cedars-Sinai had done more than 13,000 bypass surgeries, nearly 600 a year on average. We use a chest artery instead of a leg vein in 95% of cases to improve long-term survival rates. Many of these are now done using minimally invasive surgery that doesn't require spreading the ribs. This means less pain, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery.

Valve Replacement Surgery: We have a long, successful record of innovations in valve surgery. We were the second group in the United States to implant the St. Jude valve in 1976. Variations of this are still among the most popular in the world. Our surgeons use many kinds of valves: mechanical ones like the St. Jude, pig and cow pericardial valves (xenografts), valves from the patient's own heart (autografts), transplanted valves (homografts) and stentless valves that leave more space for blood flow.

Our doctors are also experienced with the Ross procedure. This difficult procedure moves one of the patient's own valves to the aorta and replaces it with a donated valve. In children, the valve is expected to grow as they do.

Valve Repair Surgery: Whenever possible a surgeon should repair a valve, not replace it. This prevents some complications. Additionally, the patient doesn't need to take blood thinners for long periods. We have made many valve repairs as often as indicated.

Transmyocardial Laser Revascularization (TMR or TMLR): This new process uses a laser to create small holes in the heart muscle to let blood flow better into the heart. We use this when patients with severe chest pain can't have bypass surgery or angioplasty.

Pacemakers and Implantable Defibrillators: Our experts can put in any one of the many advanced pacemakers and defibrillators available based on what best meets each patient's needs.

Transplantation: In the first 10 years of this program, we did nearly 300 heart transplants. Patient survival rates are among the highest in the world.

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Pediatric Cardiology/Cardiac Surgery

Three heart surgeons who specialize in children are available 24 hours a day for consultation and hospital care. Our staff provides full-service treatment of congenital heart disease. This includes:

  • Complete newborn heart disease repairs
  • Surgery for single ventricles
  • The Ross procedure
  • Minimally invasive techniques

Our doctors are highly experienced with the Ross procedure. This difficult procedure moves one of the patient's own valves to the aorta and replaces it with a donated valve. In children, the valve is expected to grow as they do. We were the first medical center to perform a heart surgery using video-assisted thoracoscopy on children. It is less invasive and stressful on the child, among other benefits. Currently, we use less invasive techniques to treat children with patent ductus arteriosus, complete vascular rings and airway compression syndromes.

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