Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more lives than the next seven causes of death combined. University Cardiothoracic Surgical Associates is Kentucky’s premier cardiothoracic surgical group and among the most experienced cardiothoracic practices in the nation, averaging more than 1,600 procedures annually. Our board-certified physicians, along with our staff of physician assistants, nurses and medical assistants, offer an exceptional depth of both clinical and research experience. Located in Louisville, our cardiothoracic surgery practice is committed to delivering excellence in clinical care and the most advanced medical treatments and procedures.
We are internationally recognized for our work in mechanical circulatory support and heart transplantation and are pioneers of major advancements in cardiothoracic surgery, including numerous regional firsts:
- Heart transplantation
- Double-lung transplantation
- Implantation of mechanical circulatory support systems as bridges to transplantation
- Implantation of the AbioCor™ replacement heart
- Minimally invasive surgical options
- First robotic thoracic surgery in Louisville
- New aortic valve replacement procedure
- First TransAortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), a new treatment for patients who are not well enough to undergo open heart surgery
We also are a national leader in surgical stroke prevention. We were the lead center in the trial that helped to gain FDA approval for TigerPaw, a device that blocks the left atrial appendage, which is a part of the left atrium where clots are likely to form when a patient has atrial fibrillation. When clots form in the left atrium, they can lead to stroke.
Having pioneered major advancements in cardiothoracic surgery, we offer a depth of experience combined with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.
University Cardiothoracic Surgical Associates uses a detailed preoperative multispecialty approach to consider the full range of treatment options for each patient before working with you to decide whether surgery is the best option. We understand that any surgery can be stressful for patients and their loved ones. Our physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and other support staff focus on the details — from your first consultation visit, throughout your hospital stay, and on through post-operative follow-up care. Our patients are encouraged to discuss any questions they may have about their diagnosis, procedure or discharge instructions with their physician or physician extender.
We offer the following treatment options:
Adult cardiac treatments:
Pediatric cardiac treatments
- Minimally invasive heart surgery
- Heart transplantation
Thoracic treatments
- Lung transplantation
- Minimally invasive pulmonary resections
- Chest wall resection and reconstruction
- Minimally invasive thymectomy, an operation to remove the thymus
- Minimally invasive mediastinal tumor resection
- Lung volume reduction surgery
- Tracheal resection and reconstruction
- Minimally invasive esophagectomy, the surgical removal of all or part of the esophagus
- Minimally invasive esophageal myotomy
- Minimally invasive gastric fundoplication
- Minimally invasive sympathectomy, a procedure during which at least one sympathetic ganglion is removed
- Bronchoscopy
- Endobronchial ultrasound
- Airway stenting
- Esophagoscopy, endoscopic examination of the esophagus
- Esophageal stenting
- Minimally invasive repairs of para-esophageal hernias (Hiatal hernias)
Our board-certified physicians offer an exceptional depth of both clinical and research experience. We are internationally recognized for our work in mechanical circulatory support and heart transplantation and are pioneers of major advancements in cardiothoracic surgery. We also engage in groundbreaking research through the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute (CII), a partnership of the University of Louisville and Jewish Hospital and St. Mary’s Healthcare, which brings new treatments for cardiovascular disease from the laboratory bench to the patient bedside.
The Cardiovascular Innovation Institute conducts a multidisciplinary research and educational program that lies at the interface between biology and engineering. The goal of the program is to address critical clinical problems in cardiovascular disease, to conduct basic research, to transfer advancements to the bedside, and whenever possible to support the commercialization of discoveries.
In addition, we are all faculty in the Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at University of Louisville, which has a long history of excellence and places keen emphasis on education. We continue to be the forerunners in cardiac-assist devices and clinical excellence and have made remarkable developments in laboratory research.
Working in state-of-the-art facilities and using some of the world’s most sophisticated technology, has enabled our thoracic surgeons to be leaders in diagnosis, treatment and discovery of heart disease and other illnesses. We are often called upon to create the next steps in cardiovascular surgery, literally leading the field.
- Erle H. Austin, III, MD
- Michael Bousamra, II, MD
- Brian L. Ganzel, MD
- Christopher E. Mascio, MD
- Ramesh S. R. Singh, MD
- A. David Slater, MD
- Mark Slaughter, MD
- Victor H. van Berkel, MD
- Matthew L. Williams, MD
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