Treating Your Heart
You were referred to our Cardiovascular Surgery Program because you have heart disease or symptoms of a heart condition that require further evaluation. Together with your doctor, you’ll discuss your treatment options and their risks and benefits. Then you and your doctor will decide whether surgery is the best choice for you at this time.

Surgery may seem scary, but your cardiac surgery team has years of experience and extensive knowledge of the latest surgical techniques. They perform a wide range of heart procedures, from coronary artery bypass to valve repair and replacement to surgical treatment for cardiac arrhythmias. They can perform traditional heart bypass surgery, as well as recently developed techniques like beating heart surgery, which doesn’t require the use of a heart-lung bypass machine. Many members of your cardiac surgery team also participate in educational and research activities, allowing us to incorporate new advances, as soon as they are proven to be of value.

Your Cardiac Surgery Team
Your cardiac surgery team consists of a number of health care professionals, all working together to provide you with high-quality, personalized care. Your integrated team may include cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, cardiac anesthesiologists, internists, intensivists, perfusionists, nurse practitioners specially trained in cardiac care, physician assistants, registered nurses specializing in post-surgery recovery, case managers, and technicians. Your cardiac surgeon may also consult with other Kaiser Permanente sub-specialists to make sure you receive high-quality care.

Our providers received their medical training at accredited universities and medical institutions, and many graduated from highly respected medical schools. In order to join our Cardiovascular Surgery Program, our surgeons go through a rigorous hiring process and need to have demonstrated their ability to excel in the technically demanding field of cardiovascular surgery.

Where You Will Receive Care
Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center are our hubs for cardiac surgery—our combined program is one of the largest in the state. Given the number of procedures our physicians perform, you can feel confident in the experience and expertise of our practitioners.

Depending on the nature of your condition, you’ll be referred to one of these medical centers. Both hospitals have a long history of excellence in cardiac surgical care. You may have to travel farther to get to us, but you will receive care from Kaiser Permanente medical professionals with specialized cardiac surgical skills, who perform a high volume of procedures.