If you are in need of a heart (cardiac or cardiothoracic) surgeon in Manhattan or the New York City area, the Division of Cardiac Surgery at Beth Israel Medical Center has an outstanding team of heart surgery experts, providing the highest quality, innovative and patient-centered treatments in a caring and supportive environment.

The Division of Cardiac Surgery at Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan, NYC, offers state-of-the-art surgical techniques to treat the vast array of vascular conditions in the heart—from aortic aneurysms to coronary artery bypass surgery to valve repair or replacement—often using minimally invasive techniques. In the 20 years since the launch of its Cardiac Surgery Program, Beth Israel Medical Center has earned consistently excellent surgical success rates and produced countless positive outcomes for its patients. As compared to their peers, the majority of Beth Israel’s cardiac surgeons treat more patients with diabetes, more women and more elderly patients—factors that contribute to a higher surgical risk—yet, the surgical results are superb in these higher risk groups.

For example, diabetic patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery have a 25 to 30 percent higher risk of death than patients without the disease. Many of them suffer from vascular and kidney disease, serious metabolic conditions involving glucose and insulin levels, or they have suffered strokes or heart failure. Additionally, they are prone to more complications from surgery, such as electrolyte imbalances that contribute to cardiac problems, infection, and poor wound healing.

Beth Israel’s Division of Cardiac Surgery has vast experience treating this challenging group of patients. In fact, one out of every three cardiac surgery patients, more than 1,800 annually, are diabetic.

The Division’s heart surgeons team with expert endocrinologists from Beth Israel’s Gerald J. Friedman Diabetes Institute, employing an interdisciplinary approach in treating diabetic cardiac surgery patients. They have developed protocols for achieving optimal glucose management, such as the continuous infusion of insulin and frequent glucose monitoring, which have improved surgical outcomes.

The division also is a leader in cutting-edge techniques, such as radial artery grafting, which uses arteries from the arm as bypass grafts. The radial artery has proven more resistant to graft failure than vein grafts, and is especially beneficial for the diabetic patient who may be suffering from additional vascular disease.

Beth Israel’s overall survival rate for diabetic cardiac surgery patients is 98 percent. The survival rate for patients without diabetes is 98.9 percent.

For all cardiac surgery patients, the Division’s world-class heart surgeons have the additional advantage of routinely working with the same surgical support personnel, including perfusionists, anesthesiologists, nurse practitioners and surgical nursing staff, creating a surgical team that has extraordinary dedication to the patient and to each other. All cardiac surgeons at Beth Israel are experienced attending physicians; there are no residents or fellows in the program.

Our cardiac intensive care unit closely monitors all patients after surgery, creating a seamless transition of care until patients are discharged from the hospital and return home.

To maintain your cardiovascular health after surgery, making lifestyle changes and taking medications as prescribed are strongly recommended. Heart-healthy lifestyle changes that are important to your recovery include:

• Quitting smoking
• Treating high cholesterol
• Managing high blood pressure and diabetes
• Exercising regularly
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Eating a heart-healthy diet
• Participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program, as recommended
• Following up with your doctor for regular visits

To schedule a consultation with a Beth Israel cardiac surgeon, call (212) 420-2584.

Beth Israel Medical Center
Division of Cardiac Surgery
317 E. 17th Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10003
(212) 420-2584