The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery performs operations to treat coronary artery disease, cardiac failure, valvular heart disease, lung and thoracic tumors, as well as diseases of the great vessels.
Team
The Cardiac Surgery Department at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) is a leading center in Israel for arterial coronary bypass surgery, minimally invasive coronary bypass procedures, off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery, complex heart valve repair, and minimally invasive valve surgery.
The Department performs a wide range of cardiac procedures, including coronary artery bypass grafting, heart valve replacement and repair, surgical treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, and surgery involving the major blood vessels.
The Department's surgeons are at the forefront of minimally invasive cardiac surgery, an approach increasingly preferred at leading cardiac surgery centers worldwide for selected procedures. The Department also performs advanced hybrid procedures, combining surgery with catheter-based interventions in the operating room.
The multidisciplinary team includes senior cardiac surgeons, an intensive care specialist dedicated to postoperative cardiac care, residents, specially trained nurses, a head nurse, a social worker, a physiotherapist, and a patient education coordinator.
Surgical Expertise
The Department specializes in advanced cardiac surgical techniques, including minimally invasive procedures, complex valve reconstruction, and coronary revascularization.
Its main areas of expertise include:
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Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), including complete arterial revascularization.
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Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery.
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Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB), performed without a heart-lung machine.
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Heart valve replacement and complex valve repair, including aortic and mitral valve procedures.
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Minimally invasive heart valve surgery.
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Surgical treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation.
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Surgery involving the aorta, including aortic arch reconstruction and thoracic aortic aneurysm repair.
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Repair of congenital heart defects in adults.
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Hybrid surgical and catheter-based procedures.
Patient-Centered Care
The Department provides comprehensive, patient-centered care throughout diagnosis, surgery, recovery, and rehabilitation. The multidisciplinary team supports patients and their families at every stage of treatment.
Supportive services available to hospitalized patients include exercise facilities, therapeutic massage, and music therapy, helping promote recovery, improve well-being, and reduce stress.
Surgical Procedures and Treatments
The Department performs a broad range of cardiac and cardiothoracic procedures, including:
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Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
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Complete arterial coronary revascularization.
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Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery.
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Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB).
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Combined heart valve replacement and coronary artery bypass surgery.
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Aortic and mitral valve repair and replacement.
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Aortic arch reconstruction.
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Thoracic aortic aneurysm repair.
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Surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation.
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Endocardial radiofrequency (RF) ablation for atrial fibrillation.
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Left ventricular reconstruction (Dor procedure).
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Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), including thoracoscopic lung lobectomy.
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Hybrid cardiac surgery combining surgical and catheter-based techniques.
Cardiac Surgery Services
The Aortic Surgery Clinic provides consultation, treatment planning, and ongoing monitoring for patients diagnosed with diseases of the aorta, particularly aortic aneurysms.
The clinic also treats patients with Marfan syndrome, an inherited connective tissue disorder that commonly affects the cardiovascular system, eyes, and skeleton.
Heart failure is one of the leading causes of hospitalization and mortality worldwide. Heart transplantation is an option for only a small proportion of patients with advanced heart failure. Many patients experience severely impaired quality of life and limited survival.
Advances in medical technology have made it possible to support patients with severe heart failure using short-term and long-term mechanical circulatory support devices.
The Mechanical Circulatory Support Service provides temporary cardiac support in cases of acute heart failure, using specialized pumps to maintain circulation until the heart recovers. For patients requiring long-term support, a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) may be implanted to support the heart's pumping function.
An LVAD is a mechanical device that assists the left ventricle and is commonly used in patients with preserved right ventricular function who are not candidates for heart transplantation.
The service brings advanced mechanical circulatory support technologies to Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, expanding the treatment options available to patients with advanced heart failure.
Patients receiving LVADs benefit from continuous follow-up, personalized care, and ongoing support from a dedicated multidisciplinary team.
The Minimally Invasive and Hybrid Cardiac Surgery Service provides consultation, follow-up, and treatment for a wide range of cardiac conditions, including:
- Heart Valve Disease: In the early stages, valve disorders may be managed with medication. As the disease progresses, surgical repair or replacement may become necessary to prevent heart muscle damage, heart failure, and other serious complications.
- Coronary Artery Stenosis: Narrowing of the coronary arteries may be treated with medication or catheter-based stent implantation. In certain cases, coronary artery bypass surgery is required and provides effective long-term treatment for patients with significant coronary artery disease.
- Cardiac Septal Defects: Surgical closure is available for defects in the walls separating the heart chambers that cannot be treated using catheter-based techniques due to their size or location. Treatment helps prevent heart failure and reduce the risk of stroke.
- Cardiac Tumors: Surgical removal of tumors located within or around the heart when they pose a risk to the patient's health.
- Atrial Arrhythmias, Including Atrial Fibrillation: Surgical treatment of atrial rhythm disorders that may impair cardiac function, increase the risk of stroke, and require long-term anticoagulant therapy. Surgical techniques can provide effective, long-lasting rhythm control.