Heart Surgery

Scripps performs the most heart surgeries in San Diego

Two Scripps cardiac surgeons perform heart surgery.

Scripps performs the most heart surgeries in San Diego

Scripps offers many of the most advanced surgical options for patients with life-threatening heart conditions and diseases. From traditional open heart bypass surgery to minimally invasive or robot-assisted surgery, we care for you with a full range of innovative cardiovascular and thoracic surgery options and procedures performed by specialists ushering in a new era of cardiac care.


Using the most advanced technology, we offer heart care services for you and your family throughout San Diego County — from Chula Vista to Oceanside — making our team of experts available where and when you need them.

Our approach to heart surgery at Scripps

Depending on the type of surgery, the patient’s health and medical history and other factors, doctors may use traditional open heart surgery or minimally invasive techniques. The goal is to achieve the best outcome using the least invasive method possible.

Traditional open heart surgery

Traditional open heart surgery involves a large incision to open the chest and perform surgery on the heart, including the valves, arteries and other areas. In most open heart surgeries, a heart-lung machine is used to keep oxygen-rich blood flowing to the brain and body. 

Minimally invasive heart surgery

Minimally invasive heart surgery involves a few small incisions around the surgical area and remote imagery to perform procedures. The surgeon inserts thin specialized instruments, along with a video camera attached to a scope, through the incisions. The camera transmits an image of the internal organs onto a monitor, and the surgeon uses the image as a guide.


Minimally invasive surgical techniques can potentially result in a faster recovery, less blood loss, reduced pain and a shorter hospital stay.

Robot-assisted heart surgery

Robot-assisted heart surgery combines minimally invasive surgical techniques with an advanced robotics system. The surgeon sits at a console in the operating room and remotely controls and manipulates tiny specialized instruments attached to robotic arms while a powerful camera provides magnified 3-D images of the area and the surrounding nerves and tissues.


The surgical robot translates the surgeon’s hand movements into smaller, more precise movements of the instruments inside the body. Robotic surgery often allows for enhanced dexterity and precision.

Cardiovascular surgeries

Cardiovascular surgeries are performed on the heart and its circulatory system including the major arteries and veins. Scripps cardiac surgeons perform a comprehensive range of cardiovascular procedures.

MAZE procedure

The surgeon makes incisions in the atria (top chambers of the heart) to block electrical currents causing abnormal heart rhythms. The procedure may be performed as traditional open heart surgery or combined with other procedures, including robot-assisted surgery or other minimally invasive procedures.

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG)

Also known as CABG or bypass surgery, this procedure bypasses a blocked coronary artery by surgically placing a new healthy vessel from another part of the body around it. The surgery can be performed as traditional open heart surgery, minimally invasive or robot-assisted surgery, in which a surgeon harvests an internal artery using the tiny robotic arms, then makes a small incision to connect the artery to the coronary artery below the blocked area.

Atrial septal defect repair

Used to close a hole in the wall of the heart between the left and right atria (top chambers), this surgery can be performed as traditional open heart surgery, minimally invasive or robot-assisted surgery.

Ventricular septal defect repair

The surgery is a traditional open heart procedure to close a hole in the wall of the heart between the left and right ventricles (bottom chambers). Many ventricular septal defects do not cause heart problems, will repair on their own or can be repaired non-surgically.

Valve-sparing aortic root replacement

Also known as David procedure, this surgery treats aortic aneurysms (weaknesses in the wall of the aortic valve) while preventing the aortic valve from tearing or separating. If the aortic valve is diseased, a bioprosthetic valve made of animal tissue is used as a replacement. The procedure may be traditional open heart or partial open heart surgery (partial sternotomy).

Ascending aorta surgery

The section of the aorta leaving the heart is repaired. The surgery may be traditional open heart or partial open heart (partial sternotomy).

Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR)

Used to replace or strengthen the aorta with a fabric tube graft, this surgery may also be traditional open heart.

Transaortic valve replacement (TAVR)

Surgeons repair the aortic valve by inserting a replacement valve inside the section of damaged valve. The surgery is minimally invasive.

Aortic valve repair or replacement

The surgeon uses an artificial (mechanical) valve or biological valve to replace the aortic valve. The surgery may be open heart aortic valve repair, minimally invasive or robot-assisted surgery.

Right anterior thoracic aortic valve repair or replacement

The surgeon may use an artificial (mechanical) valve or biological valve. The surgery is minimally invasive.

Tricuspid valve repair or replacement

Using an artificial (mechanical) valve or biological valve, the surgeon repairs or replaces the damaged tricuspid valve between the heart’s right atrium and right ventricle. It may be traditional open heart, minimally invasive or robot-assisted surgery.

Mitral valve repair or replacement

Using an artificial (mechanical) valve or biological valve, the surgeon repairs or replaces a damaged mitral valve between the heart’s left atrium and left ventricle. This procedure may be traditional open heart, minimally invasive or robot-assisted surgery.

Left ventricle assist device (LVAD)

The surgeon implants a mechanical pump to provide circulatory support for a weakened heart, ensuring that oxygen-rich blood is pumped through the body.

Learn more about TAVR and heart valve repair

Learn more about TAVR and heart valve repair

Scripps cardiologist Paul Teirstein, MD, discusses how the minimally invasive surgery called TAVR repairs aortic valves.

Lung and thoracic surgeries

Thoracic surgeries are those performed on the heart, lungs, esophagus and other organs in the chest. Thoracic surgery also includes cardiothoracic surgical procedures. Scripps thoracic and cardiothoracic surgeons perform a range of lung and thoracic procedures.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)

In video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, the surgeon inserts an instrument called a thoracoscope through small incisions in the chest to perform lung procedures. The surgery may be minimally invasive or robot-assisted surgery.

Cardiac tumor removal

Cardiac tumor removal is a treatment for rare benign or malignant (cancerous) tumors in the heart or heart valves. These tumors typically originate in the heart. Most malignant tumors of the heart have spread from other parts of the body. The surgery may be minimally invasive or robot-assisted surgery.

Mediastinal tumor removal

Mediastinal tumor removal is surgery to treat benign or malignant tumors that form in the mediastinum, which is the part of the chest between the sternum and spinal cord bordered by the lungs. The surgery may be minimally invasive or robot-assisted surgery.

Thrombectomy

Thrombectomy is a procedure to remove a blot clot from a blood vessel. This type of cardiothoracic surgery may be minimally invasive or robot-assisted surgery.

Pericardial window

Pericardial window is a cardiac surgical procedure that makes an opening between the ribs to drain accumulated fluid around the heart.