Heart Surgery Services

If you need heart surgery, our team combines advanced surgical expertise with personalized care to help you feel informed, confident and cared for every step of the way.

MU Health Care’s heart surgeons performed the first open heart surgery in mid-Missouri in 1958, and we’ve been leading the way ever since.

Today, our team performs more than 750 heart procedures each year using the latest techniques to improve outcomes and support healing.

We’re also one of Missouri’s most active and trusted referral centers for complex heart surgery, with patients coming to us from across the region.

Our Approach to Heart Surgery

Heart surgery is never one-size-fits-all. At MU Health Care, your surgical plan is tailored to your condition, health history and recovery goals.

As an academic health system, we lead and participate in clinical trials to bring the latest heart surgery treatments to Missouri. Our research focus means your care reflects the most current, evidence-based methods and techniques.

From diagnosis through recovery, we focus on safety and long-term heart health.

Your Expert Team

Our heart surgeons work closely with other MU Health Care specialists to deliver complete, coordinated care, including:

Anesthesiologists: Help keep you comfortable during surgery.
Cardiologists: Guide diagnosis and treatment planning.
Critical care specialists: Help manage breathing during complex procedures and support you through recovery in the ICU.
Radiologists: Provide detailed imaging before and after surgery.

Heart Conditions We Treat

Our cardiac surgery team treats a wide range of heart and vascular conditions, from blocked arteries to complex valve disease.

Conditions we commonly treat include:

Aortic aneurysm and dissection
Aortic and mitral valve disease
Arrhythmias and electrical heart disorders
Atrial fibrillation requiring surgical treatment
Congenital and acquired heart defect care
Coronary artery disease (CAD)
Heart failure requiring surgical intervention

We do not perform heart transplants or complex congenital heart surgeries.

Heart Surgery Tests and Treatments

We provide many types of heart surgery and use minimally invasive or robotic techniques whenever possible to support quicker recovery with fewer risks.

Common Procedures

Our cardiac surgeons perform routine and complex procedures, including:

Aortic surgery to repair aneurysms or dissections
Beating-heart bypass surgery (off-pump CABG)
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)
Minimally invasive surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation
Minimally invasive valve repair and replacement
Structural heart procedures (with cardiology), including transcatheter valve repair and replacement
The MAZE procedure to create new electrical pathways for atrial fibrillation
Valve repair or replacement for aortic and mitral valve disease

Before Surgery

Before your procedure, you’ll meet with your heart surgeon and advanced practice provider to review your health history, discuss your options and complete any needed testing.

Preoperative tests may include:

CT imaging
Echocardiogram
Pulmonary function testing
Vein and artery mapping

We’ll also give you clear instructions and helpful education materials, so you know exactly what to expect and how to get ready for heart surgery.

During Surgery

We use hybrid operating rooms equipped for both open-heart and catheter-based procedures. This setup allows us to provide more efficient care in one location.

Heart procedures typically take three to five hours and are performed under general anesthesia. Throughout the operation, our surgical and anesthesia teams monitor you closely.

Post-Op Recovery

Recovery takes time, but we’re with you from your hospital stay through long-term recovery.

You may stay in the hospital for three to five days, and you’ll start your recovery in our cardiovascular ICU, where every room is private and designed to support healing.

From there, you’ll move to a private inpatient room focused on rest and comfort. Our team of physicians, nurses, dietitians and physical therapists will help guide your recovery and monitor your progress.

Ongoing Care

Once you're home, we continue supporting you with a personalized cardiac rehab plan to help you regain strength and protect your heart.

Your plan may include:

Avoiding driving for one month and not lifting more than 20 pounds for two months
Cardiac rehabilitation, starting about one month after discharge and lasting four to six weeks
Returning to work within two months, depending on your job
Using personalized pain management to stay comfortable as you heal

You’ll also receive guidance on medications, heart-healthy habits and long-term prevention to help you feel your best.