Section Overview of Cardiac Surgery

The Section of Cardiac Surgery that consists of 2 divisions: Adult Cardiac Surgery and Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery. Over this past academic year, clinical activity includes 1994 operative procedures. This included approximately 939 adult cardiac cases in University Hospital, 888 pediatric cases in Mott Children's Hospital, and 167 cases in the Veterans Administration Medical Center.

In addition to the surgical activity of the Section, approximately 3439 outpatients were seen.

The Adult Cardiac Surgery Division continues to maintain strong clinical programs in the traditional areas of myocardial revascularization as well as cardiac valve repair and replacement. In collaboration with the Division of Cardiology, we have continued to develop new methods of providing efficient cost-effective care to our patients. Recently two major acquisitions took place to further our surgical options: an Eclipse YAG Laser System for transmyocardial revascularization as a treatment for refractory angina, and the da Vinci Robotic System for mitral valve repair and selected coronary artery bypass procedures. In addition, expansion of our inpatient facilities to include additional operating room time and ICU beds is occurring with the opening of the Cardiovascular Center.

Dr. Richard Prager serves as Chief of the Division of Adult Cardiac Surgery and Director of the Cardiovascular Center, bringing his outstanding clinical expertise throughout the entire range of acquired heart surgery as well as his long-standing interest and national leadership role in the areas of data management and contracting. He has recently completed an enormous project analyzing the entire section's cardiac surgical experience over the past 5 years, including clinical outcomes and major trends. Dr Prager has also taken the major leadership role in the reorganization of cardiac operating room services as well as for the education of the students, residents, and fellows rotating on the adult cardiac surgery service.

Dr. G. Michael Deeb continues to be recognized nationally and internationally for his accomplishments in the surgical treatment of disorders of the thoracic aorta, including acute dissections and complex aneurysms involving the aortic arch. His multidisciplinary Aortic Clinic continues with a record number of patient evaluations. He also has been a leader in a multi-institutional clinical trial of the freestyle porcine aortic valve. Largely as a result of his efforts, the University of Michigan has been designated one of only a few major centers in the nation for the education and training of others in the use of this valve. An aortic valve symposium, similar to the mitral conference held last year, was held this past September to demonstrate the techniques of implantation of this valve.

Dr. Steven Bolling's expertise in mitral valve repair continues to result in a large volume of referrals for mitral valve reconstruction. His innovative approach to mitral valve repair in patients with end-stage left ventricular failure and outstanding ability to repair even the most challenging mitral valve abnormalities have received wide spread international acclaim. He continues to run an NIH-funded basic science laboratory, as well as the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research Center, which is also funded by the NIH.

Frank Pagani M.D., Ph.D. is Director of the Cardiac Surgery Center for Circulatory Support and Heart Transplant Program. Under his direction, the program is one of the most active transplant and mechanical circulatory support programs in the nation. Dr. Pagani's research focuses on artificial heart devices, transplant immunology and cellular transplantation.

Dr. Edward Bove is the Head of the Section of Cardiac Surgery and the Director of the Division of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery. The Division of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery is one of the busiest congenital heart programs in the U.S. and the largest in the state of Michigan, performing over 900 procedures annually. Patients come to the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital from around the world for surgical treatment of all forms of congenital heart defects. Perhaps best known for the treatment of complex forms of surgical ventricular, especially hypoplastic left heart syndrome, the division treats more of these patients than any other in the world. Dr. Bove's particular research interest is in the area of computer flow modeling of the circulation in complex congenital heart disease.

Dr. Richard Ohye is a member of the Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery Division and the Director of the Pediatric Heart Transplant Program. Dr. Ohye's major clinical and research interests are in pediatric heart transplantation, mechanical circulatory assist devices for infants, and cerebral perfusion in newborns undergoing complex surgical procedures. Dr. Ohye has organized a prospective trial comparing regional cerebral perfusion and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in babies undergoing the Norwood operation for HLHS. Dr. Ohye is also the Program Director for the University of Michigan Thoracic Surgery Residency.

Dr. Eric Devaney is an Assistant Professor of Surgery, specializing in congenital heart surgery, heart transplantation, and circulatory support devices. Dr. Devaney completed his training in cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Michigan and spent an additional year as a fellow in pediatric cardiac surgery. In addition to his active clinical role, Dr. Devaney will also be conducting basic science research.

The Division continues to maintain a position of leadership in the field of pediatric cardiac surgery, attracting visitors and advanced trainees from around the world. The results for the repair of complex congenital heart disease, particularly for hypoplastic left heart syndrome and other forms of complex single ventricle in the newborn, remain among the best reported anywhere and have continued to generate referrals from throughout the United States and foreign countries. Similar to the needs of our growing adult cardiac service, the pediatric program is also planning for additional operating room time and ICU beds to meet the needs of our patients. The Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Division and Division of Pediatric Cardiology, functioning together as the University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, have implemented a variety of jointly sponsored innovative efforts to improve the care of our patients with congenital heart disease.

Dr. Himanshu Patel is the Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Ann Arbor VA, replacing Dr. Kirsh who retired from that position. He is also an Assistant Professor of Surgery specializing in aortic surgery and transplantation. Dr. Patel will spend much of his time working at the VA cardiac service to continue the tradition of supplying excellent educational experience for residents and outstanding care for patients. In addition, Dr. Patel directs the endovascular surgery program which offers suitable patients minimally invasive stent-grafting options for diseases of the aorta.

Dr. Jonathan Haft joined the faculty in 2005. After training here in both General Surgery and Thoracic Surgery residencies, he has replaced newly retired Robert Bartlett, M.D. to become the new Director of the Extracorporeal Life Support Program. Dr. Haft has also become Director of the Thoracic Intensive Care Unit at the Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Hospital and Co-Director of the Thoracic Intensive Care Unit at the University of Michigan.

Dr. Jennifer C. Hirsch, received her M.D. from Harvard Medical School. She joined the faculty in 2006 following the completion of her residency and fellowships in Extracorporeal Life Support, Critical Care, and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at the University of Michigan. She is a member of the Division of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery.

Dr. Margaret Westfall is an investigator in the Section of Cardiac Surgery laboratory. Dr Westfall's major areas of research include the influence of the thin filament on cardiac muscle function using techniques of gene transfer; cardiac troponin I function within the intact myofilament lattice; and intracellular signaling of changes in contractile function. She continues her teaching activities in the Department of Physiology as well as our didactic conferences. She has recently been awarded a major NIH grant for her work.

Dr. Ravi Birla is a basic science investigator who directs the Section of Cardiac Surgery's Tissue Engineering Research Laboratory. He and his team are developing 3-dimensional cardiac muscle constructs that can replace injured heart tissue and augment the function of failing hearts. Future goals include the development of guided self-assembly functional ventricles and even entire hearts.

The residency program continues to attract the finest applicants from around the country for our 2 available positions. A special feature of our program continues to be an optional third-year fellowship experience after completion of the two-year residency. This experience provides an opportunity to gain additional focus and clinical experience in pediatric cardiac, adult cardiac, thoracic transplantation, or general thoracic surgery while functioning at a junior faculty level. Three surgeons, Drs. Sunjay Kaushal, Takeshi Skinkawa and Takeshi Konuma are in pediatric cardiac fellowships currently. Dr. Yoshi Suzuki is our current adult cardiac surgery fellow.

In addition to the numerous hospital and departmental administrative responsibilities, the members of the Section of Cardiac Surgery remain active in many national and international committees and continue to have important leadership positions in our specialty. Members of the Section perform important administrative roles on the World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, the committee for pediatric cardiovascular services for the State of New York, the Self Education and Self Assessment in Thoracic Surgery program, the Scientific Advisory Committee for United Network for Organ Sharing, and the American Association of Thoracic Surgery, just to name a few.

The formation of a Cardiovascular Center, an effort to incorporate all the clinical and research faculty involved in adult and pediatric cardiovascular care, has moved another step forward with the upcoming opening of a 345,000 square foot clinical facility and 400-space parking deck. The building, which is located on the site of the "Old Main" hospital, will be open for use in June 2007.

The members of the Section of Cardiac Surgery look forward to even greater opportunities for growth and development in the future. We remain committed to delivering outstanding care to our patients, the scientific advancement and pursuit of new knowledge in our specialty, and the education of our residents.