SAVING LIVES THROUGH EXPERIENCE.
Minimally Invasive
Cardiac Surgery.
The heart experts at UHealth are dedicated to providing patients with the most advanced, minimally invasive options for cardiac care that have the best possible outcomes.
Make an Appointment Today
Please Schedule an appointment with the experts at UHealth. Call 305-689-2784 for Cardiac Surgery, 305-689-3366 for Thoracic Surgery or schedule an appointment online.
Committed to Quality
UHealth Cardiac Surgery is committed to delivering excellence in minimally invasive approaches to heart surgeries. As an emblem of our dedication to saving lives, we're proud to be among an elite group of hospitals to have received the Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award, as designated by the American Heart Association and the Mitral Foundation. In addition, UHealth Cardiac Surgery has earned maximum star ratings from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons for mitral valve repair and replacement and aortic valve replacement.
Meet Dr. Joseph Lamelas, Chief of Cardiac Surgery
Dr. Lamelas is an internationally known pioneer in minimally invasive cardiac surgery, and is the state’s leader in cardiac care*. He developed the minimally invasive “Miami Method” for cardiac surgery – an approach he has performed in more than 7,000 cases, and that has been demonstrated to have many advantages for patients. These include getting patients back to their lives faster and with fewer complications than with open heart surgery. Dr. Lamelas leads UHealth’s team of heart experts, who offer the full spectrum of comprehensive cardiovascular care.
* AHCA data, 2020: Dr. Lamelas performed more cardiac surgeries in the State of Florida than any other heart surgeon.
LEARN MORE ABOUT DR. LAMELASThe Benefits of a Minimally Invasive Approach to Cardiac Surgery
Research shows that high-risk patients, including the elderly and the obese, have better outcomes with Dr. Lamelas’ minimally invasive approach to cardiac surgery. This minimally invasive approach provides many advantages to patients, including:
- Reduced pain and trauma
- Less blood loss
- Reduced risk of infection
- Reduced risk of stroke
- Shorter hospital stays
- Quicker recovery
Treatments
Your UHealth cardiac surgery team specializes in the full spectrum of leading-edge minimally invasive procedures, treatments, and therapies, including:
Aortic Dissection and Aneurysm Surgery
Our cardiothoracic surgeons perform advanced surgeries on the aorta (the artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body) to treat valve problems or aortic aneurysms (weak spots in the wall of the aorta).
Adult Congenital Surgery
Some congenital heart defects may not be diagnosed until you are an adult. Our expert cardiothoracic surgeons can repair these heart defects.
Complex Valve Repair and Reconstruction
Our expert cardiothoracic surgeons use advanced techniques to repair and reconstruct heart valves, even in the most difficult cases.
Complex Cancer or Reoperative Surgery
Cardiothoracic surgeons perform surgeries to remove lung cancer, offering advanced reoperative (repeat) surgeries if cancer returns.
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)
In this surgery, your surgeon takes an artery or vein from another part of your body and grafts (moves) it over a blocked artery in your heart, improving blood flow and preventing a heart attack.
Surgery of the Ascending or Descending Aorta
During minimally invasive endovascular surgeries, our surgeons can repair aneurysms (weak areas) in the walls of the aorta, preventing a life-threatening aneurysm rupture.
Hybrid Coronary Revascularization
In this specialized procedure, surgeons and interventional cardiologists work together to improve blood flow to the heart using stents (tiny tubes), a minimally invasive procedure, and CABG.
Hybrid Aortic Surgery
Hybrid aortic surgeries use both minimally invasive and open procedures to repair aortic aneurysms, giving high-risk patients more treatment options.
Left Ventricular Remodeling
When your left ventricle (a chamber of the heart) is damaged by a health condition, our physicians can use advanced procedures to reshape the ventricle and improve its ability to pump blood.
Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS)
If your heart cannot pump blood or you are undergoing a surgery in which your heart must be stopped, we use advanced MCS to keep your blood flowing through your body.
Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
Our surgeons perform many different minimally invasive heart surgeries that have fewer risks and faster recoveries than open heart surgeries.
Myotomy and Myectomy
During these surgical procedures, your cardiothoracic surgeon will remove or cut part of your heart muscle to help improve your heart’s ability to pump blood.
Regenerative Medicine Clinical Trials
These advanced clinical trials use stem cell therapy, gene therapy, and matrix therapy techniques to treat heart conditions.
Reoperative Aortic, Heart or Lung Surgery
Because some heart and lung conditions can continue to get worse even after heart surgery, our surgeons provide specialized reoperative (repeat) procedures to improve your quality of life.
Replacement of the Ascending Aorta
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Robotic Lung Surgery
Using the da Vinci robotic surgery system, our cardiothoracic surgeons can perform minimally invasive lung surgeries with just a few small incisions.
Robotic Thymectomy
Our expert surgeons can use robotic surgery techniques to remove all or part of the thymus gland in the chest.
Valve Surgery
During valve surgeries, our cardiothoracic surgeons can replace or repair damaged heart valves to improve heart function.
Heartaware
Are You at Risk?
You may be at risk for cardiovascular disease and not even know it. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that nearly half of all Americans have at least one of three key risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and tobacco use. Take the confidential and free UHealth Heart Risk Assessment to learn if you may be at risk and the steps you can take right now to improve your heart health. If you are at high risk for cardiovascular disease, a UHealth cardiovascular nurse will provide a free, in-person heart risk assessment to determine if you meet the criteria to receive a reduced-cost coronary calcium scan.