Heart Surgery
Key Takeaways
- The University of Chicago Medicine offers every major type of heart surgery, from bypass surgery to heart transplant.
- We have performed more than 1,600 robotic heart surgeries — one of the longest-running programs in the country.
- Our heart transplant program has some of the shortest wait times and highest survival rates in the nation.
- Heart surgery for children is available at UChicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital, from newborns through teens.
At The University of Chicago Medicine, our heart surgeons treat some of the most complex heart problems in the country. We offer every major type of heart surgery, from fixing blocked arteries to replacing a failing heart. Our surgeons are known around the world, and many were the first to perform new, breakthrough procedures. Whether you need a routine repair or a full heart transplant, our team creates a plan that is right for you.
We treat conditions including coronary artery disease, heart failure, valve disease, atrial fibrillation, aortic aneurysm and congenital (birth) heart defects. Our goal is to help you get back to the life you love.
Our surgeons take on the hardest cases — and getting great results for those patients has helped us build a system that delivers excellent care for every patient. We use the same advanced tools and techniques for all cases, not just the most complex ones.
Why Choose UChicago Medicine for Heart Surgery?
Here is what sets our heart surgery program apart:
- High performing in heart bypass surgery: Also recognized by U.S. News & World Report for outstanding outcomes in bypass surgery.
- More than 1,600 robotic heart surgeries performed: One of the longest-running and most experienced robotic cardiac surgery programs in the country, with more than 10 years of proven results.
- Less invasive options: In many cases, our surgeons perform bypass surgery through small cuts at the side of the chest instead of opening the breastbone — so you recover faster and have less pain.
- Shortest wait times for heart transplant combined with highest survival rates: A combination no other program has historically achieved at the same time.
- We treat difficult cases: We care for patients other programs may turn away, including those who need bloodless surgery or complex transplant procedures.
- Children's heart surgery: UChicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital offers care for babies, kids and teens, including the most complex congenital heart conditions.
Conditions We Treat
- Coronary artery disease: The arteries that bring blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked. This can cause chest pain or a heart attack.
- Heart failure: The heart becomes too weak to pump enough blood through the body. This can cause shortness of breath, fatigue and swelling.
- Heart valve disease: One or more valves in the heart do not open or close the way they should, making it harder for blood to flow correctly.
- Atrial fibrillation: The heart beats in an irregular, often fast rhythm instead of a steady pattern. This raises the risk of stroke and other problems.
- Aortic aneurysm: A bulge or weak spot develops in the aorta — the main blood vessel leaving the heart. If it bursts, it can be life-threatening.
- Aortic dissection: A tear develops inside the wall of the aorta. This is a medical emergency.
- Congenital heart defects: Heart problems present at birth, ranging from small holes to complex structural issues.
- Cardiomyopathy: Disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood.
- Endocarditis: An infection of the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves.
- Pericardial disease: Conditions affecting the sac that surrounds the heart, such as inflammation or fluid buildup.
- Ventricular arrhythmia: Dangerous abnormal heart rhythms that start in the lower chambers of the heart.
Our Heart Surgery Team
Our heart surgery team includes some of the most experienced cardiac surgeons in the country. Many of them helped create the procedures they perform every day. They work side by side with cardiologists, anesthesiologists, nurses and recovery specialists so that every patient gets complete, connected care from the first appointment through recovery.
Advanced Care for the Most Challenging Cases
We take the most challenging cases, but taking on the most challenging cases and getting great results with the challenging cases has allowed us to build an entire infrastructure and a system that gives even better care to the not-so-challenging cases. So, we've used that technology and the techniques developed for the challenging cases and we bring them down to every case. And so we have fantastic results across the board.
Types of Heart Surgeries
The aorta is the main blood vessel that carries blood away from your heart. When it weakens or bulges — called an aneurysm — it can become life-threatening. Our surgeons are experts in repairing the aorta, whether through open surgery or a less invasive approach. We evaluate each patient individually to find the safest option.
AFib is when your heart beats in an unsteady, irregular pattern. For some patients, surgery can correct this problem and help the heart beat normally again. We use several surgical approaches and work closely with our heart rhythm team to find the right treatment for you.
Most heart surgeries require briefly stopping the heart. But in some cases, our surgeons can perform bypass surgery while your heart keeps beating. This is called off-pump, or beating-heart, surgery. It may lower the risk of certain complications and is an option we consider for the right patients.
Some patients cannot receive blood transfusions for medical or personal reasons. Our team has specialized training and techniques to perform complex heart surgery safely without transfusions. We have successfully cared for patients with very low blood counts and those whose beliefs do not allow blood products.
When arteries to your heart get blocked, blood cannot flow the way it should. Our surgeons create a new path — called a bypass — so blood can move around the blockage and reach your heart again. In most cases, we do this through small cuts at the side of the chest instead of opening the breastbone. That means less pain and a faster recovery for you.
When your heart is too weak to pump enough blood through your body, that is called heart failure. Surgery may help. Our team offers mechanical heart pumps called ventricular assist devices (VADs) that help your heart do its job. For some patients, a VAD is a step toward a transplant. For others, it can be a long-term solution.
If your heart is too sick to work on its own, a heart transplant may be an option. Our transplant team has some of the shortest wait times and highest survival rates in the country — a combination that is very rare. We work hard to find the right donor heart for each patient, including patients other programs might turn down. UChicago Medicine has been performing heart transplants since 1984 and set an Illinois record with 66 successful transplants in 2022.
At UChicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital, our pediatric heart surgeons treat heart problems in children of all ages, from newborns to teenagers. We specialize in complex heart defects that children are born with (congenital defects), as well as conditions that develop later. We treat cases other programs consider too high-risk, and we work to address problems early to prevent future complications.
UChicago Medicine has one of the oldest and most experienced robotic heart surgery programs in the country. We have performed more than 1,600 successful robotic procedures over more than a decade. Our surgeons use a robot and tiny cameras to fix heart problems through very small cuts. Because we do not have to open your chest, you usually heal faster, have less pain and go home sooner.
After open-heart surgery, the breastbone (sternum) needs to heal. In some patients — especially those at higher risk for complications — we use small titanium plates to hold the breastbone together more securely. This can speed healing and reduce the risk of infection or instability after surgery.
Why Choose UChicago Medicine for Heart Surgery?
Here is what sets our heart surgery program apart:
- High performing in heart bypass surgery: Also recognized by U.S. News & World Report for outstanding outcomes in bypass surgery.
- More than 1,600 robotic heart surgeries performed: One of the longest-running and most experienced robotic cardiac surgery programs in the country, with more than 10 years of proven results.
- Less invasive options: In many cases, our surgeons perform bypass surgery through small cuts at the side of the chest instead of opening the breastbone — so you recover faster and have less pain.
- Shortest wait times for heart transplant combined with highest survival rates: A combination no other program has historically achieved at the same time.
- We treat difficult cases: We care for patients other programs may turn away, including those who need bloodless surgery or complex transplant procedures.
- Children's heart surgery: UChicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital offers care for babies, kids and teens, including the most complex congenital heart conditions.
Conditions We Treat
- Coronary artery disease: The arteries that bring blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked. This can cause chest pain or a heart attack.
- Heart failure: The heart becomes too weak to pump enough blood through the body. This can cause shortness of breath, fatigue and swelling.
- Heart valve disease: One or more valves in the heart do not open or close the way they should, making it harder for blood to flow correctly.
- Atrial fibrillation: The heart beats in an irregular, often fast rhythm instead of a steady pattern. This raises the risk of stroke and other problems.
- Aortic aneurysm: A bulge or weak spot develops in the aorta — the main blood vessel leaving the heart. If it bursts, it can be life-threatening.
- Aortic dissection: A tear develops inside the wall of the aorta. This is a medical emergency.
- Congenital heart defects: Heart problems present at birth, ranging from small holes to complex structural issues.
- Cardiomyopathy: Disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood.
- Endocarditis: An infection of the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves.
- Pericardial disease: Conditions affecting the sac that surrounds the heart, such as inflammation or fluid buildup.
- Ventricular arrhythmia: Dangerous abnormal heart rhythms that start in the lower chambers of the heart.
Our Heart Surgery Team
Our heart surgery team includes some of the most experienced cardiac surgeons in the country. Many of them helped create the procedures they perform every day. They work side by side with cardiologists, anesthesiologists, nurses and recovery specialists so that every patient gets complete, connected care from the first appointment through recovery.
Heart Surgery Frequently Asked Questions
Heart surgery is any operation done on the heart or the blood vessels connected to it. Surgeons may repair or replace heart valves, clear blocked arteries, fix the heart's rhythm or replace a failing heart with a donor heart. There are many types of heart surgery, and each one treats a different problem.
Your doctor will decide if surgery is right for you based on your test results, symptoms and medical history. Surgery is usually recommended when other treatments — such as medicine or lifestyle changes — are no longer enough to keep your heart working safely. Your care team will explain all your options and help you choose the best path.
In minimally invasive surgery, the surgeon makes small cuts instead of opening the whole chest. This usually means less pain, less blood loss and a faster recovery than traditional open-heart surgery. At UChicago Medicine, many surgeries that once required cutting the breastbone can now be done through small cuts at the side of the chest.
Robotic heart surgery uses a machine with small arms and a camera to help the surgeon work through very small cuts. The surgeon controls the robot from a nearby console. The robot does not make decisions — the surgeon is always in full control. UChicago Medicine has one of the most experienced robotic heart surgery programs in the country, with more than 1,600 successful procedures.
Many patients who need bypass surgery or valve repair are good candidates for robotic surgery. Your surgeon will review your health history, imaging results and other factors to decide if this approach is right for you. Because of our extensive experience, we offer robotic surgery to more patients than most programs.
A heart transplant may be an option when the heart is too damaged or weak to work properly and other treatments have not helped. This is often the case with advanced heart failure. Our team evaluates each patient carefully to see if a transplant is the right choice.
UChicago Medicine has some of the shortest heart transplant wait times in the country. We actively seek out donor organs, including donors that other programs might pass on. We also use advanced technology to extend how long we can preserve a donor heart, which lets us accept organs from farther away.
You can call us at 773-702-2500 (Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm CT). If you are experiencing chest pain or other urgent symptoms, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room right away.
In many cases, you do not need a referral. However, some insurance plans do require one. We recommend checking with your insurance provider. Our scheduling team can also help answer questions about what is needed.
Heart Surgeries We Perform
Nationally Ranked in Cardiology, Heart Surgery and Vascular Surgery
According to U.S. News & World Report's 2025-26 Rankings
High Performing in Heart Bypass Surgery
According to U.S. News & World Report's 2025-26 Rankings
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If you have symptoms of an urgent nature, please call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.
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