Heart and cardiothoracic surgical care in Chattanooga

At Parkridge Medical Group, our cardiothoracic surgeons provide specialized services for heart patients and their families. Our surgeons continue to lead the nation in developing minimally invasive cardiac and thoracic surgical techniques, giving patients a faster recovery and return to normal life than traditional open procedures allow.

Our team is dedicated to keeping you educated about and involved in your treatment plan and will be with you each step of the way, from diagnosis through recovery.

To learn more about our cardiothoracic surgery services, please call us at (423) 698-2435.

What is cardiothoracic surgery?

Cardiothoracic surgery allows surgeons to treat conditions of the heart, lungs and chest. With this type of surgery, physicians can open coronary arteries narrowed by fatty plaque buildup, repair weakened heart muscles or abnormalities and correct heart rhythm disorders, also called heart arrhythmias.

Heart and thoracic conditions we treat

Our cardiothoracic surgeons use various techniques and procedures to treat a wide range of conditions, including:

  • Acute myocardial infarction (heart attack)
  • Angina
  • Aortic aneurysm
  • Aortic valve disease
  • Aortic valve stenosis
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Bradycardia
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Congenital (present at birth) heart disease
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Connective tissue disorders
  • Deep vein thrombosis
  • Heart disease
  • Mitral valve disease
  • Pericarditis
  • Peripheral artery disease
  • Pulmonary embolism
  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • Thoracic aneurysm

Cardiothoracic diagnostic testing

Finding the cause of a problem with your heart or thoracic cavity is key to developing the right course of treatment. Detecting cardiothoracic conditions can be done in a variety of ways — our team of physicians may order one of the following to help determine your condition:

  • Ablation procedures
  • Carotid ultrasound
  • Coronary angiography
  • Direct current cardioversion
  • Echocardiography
  • Holter monitoring services
  • Peripheral angiography
  • Peripheral vascular studies

Candidates for cardiothoracic surgery

Sometimes, your condition may require a more invasive procedure. There are many different reasons and ways you could qualify for cardiothoracic surgery. These include:

  • To confirm a lung or chest disease diagnosis
  • To remove the lung or a portion of the lung
  • To re-inflate collapsed lung tissue
  • To remove pus or blood clots from the chest

Cardiothoracic surgeries we perform

Cardiothoracic surgery is a large component of our comprehensive cardiology program, and our surgeons are experienced in a wide range of cardiothoracic procedures, including:

  • Advanced surgery for atrial fibrillation — Full Cox Maze and modified Maze procedures are offered to eliminate atrial fibrillation, enabling a normal sinus rhythm
  • Aneurysm surgery, including endovascular stenting — This is a newer form of treatment for an abdominal aortic aneurysm that is less invasive than open surgery; a fabric tube supported by metal wire stents is used to reinforce the aorta's weak spot
  • Cardiac stenting — The inserting of a tube-shaped device in the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart
  • Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) — A surgical procedure to restore normal blood flow to an obstructed coronary artery
  • Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) — A minimally invasive procedure to replace a narrowed aortic valve that fails to open properly
  • Transmyocardial revascularization — A surgical procedure using a special carbon dioxide (CO2) laser to shoot tiny pinholes or channels through the heart muscle and into the heart's lower left chamber
  • Valve repair and replacement — This procedure is used to correct the problems caused by one or more diseased heart valves