by DrCiuffo | Oct 13, 2015 | Blog, Heart Surgery, Inoperable Heart Surgery Patients
Heart surgery is a life saving procedure for many people. There are a lot of different reasons to get heart surgery, including blocked arteries, damaged valves, controlled function, and so much more. Some people who need these surgeries are unable to have traditional cardiac procedures because of additional health problems. That’s where minimally invasive heart surgery comes in. Patients who are old, frail, or otherwise sick can receive minimally invasive heart surgery to save and extend their lives! So, who needs heart surgery? Patients who have heart failure Patients who have coronary heart disease Patients who have blocked arteries Patients who have damaged/blocked heart valves Patients with abnormal heart rhythms Patients who need medical devices in their heart Patients who have a damaged heart Who should look into minimally invasive heart surgery? If you have been diagnosed as inoperable or high risk by your normal doctor or cardiologist, it is extremely important to look into your options. Patients are diagnosed as inoperable when they are said to be too sick or too frail to be able to withstand traditional surgery. Minimally invasive procedures avoid the trauma, pain, and some of the risks that come with traditional surgery, making them the best possible option for high risk patients. Minimally invasive treatments are also a great option even if you are able to withstand traditional surgery. With a quicker recovery, less trauma, less pain, less blood loss, and many more benefits, minimally invasive is one of the best options available today. Get A Second Opinion With Dr. Ciuffo Dr. Ciuffo works with patients every day to create a minimally invasive surgical... by DrCiuffo | Sep 1, 2015 | Advanced Heart Surgery, Blog, Heart Surgery, Inoperable Heart Surgery Patients
If you have a high risk heart condition, your local doctor may say your case is inoperable. This may simply be because your local doctor doesn’t know about new, specialty techniques available out there. It is extremely important for anyone who has been diagnosed as high risk or inoperable to get a second opinion. Dr. Giovanni Ciuffo is well versed and experienced in creating solutions for all types of heart conditions. Inoperable Diagnosis After your diagnosis, ask your local cardiologist and heart surgeon why you’ve been diagnosed this way. Write down their answers. An expert in high risk cardiac cases can often handle many risk factors with excellent results These successful techniques may not be available in your area. There may be outside problems that are stopping your local doctor. For instance, bad lungs may be blamed for symptoms related to the heart condition. Fixing the heart condition might reverse these symptoms enough to save a patient and restore quality of life. Patients also need to ask about their chances without surgery. Some surgeons neglect to tell patients that going without surgery is significantly riskier than the surgery to fix it. It is important to know this to help you make the right choice and consider a second opinion. Obtain copies of all your imaging studies (i.e.: CAT scans, Echocardiograms, Left Heart Catheterizations, Stress Tests, MRI’s) and medical reports. Contact a center with expertise in high risk and inoperable heart surgery cases and request an evaluation of your case. Request A Second Opinion If you’ve been diagnosed as inoperable, please know that this is not final. Dr. Ciuffo works with many high risk patients every day to... by DrCiuffo | Aug 21, 2015 | Blog, Dr. Giovanni B Ciuffo, Heart Surgery
Dr. Giovanni Ciuffo specializes in bloodless and minimally invasive heart surgery at the Cardiovascular Institute of Mercy Medical Center in Canton, OH. Patients travel from across the globe to receive life-saving cardiac procedures from Dr. Ciuffo. If you are in need of advanced heart surgery, please consider Dr. Ciuffo and Mercy Medical Center. For Patients Minimally invasive heart surgery patients can expect to be in the hospital for two to three days, then discharged home or to a rehab facility. Dr. Ciuffo’s minimally invasive methods allow for a quicker recovery, less pain, and a very small scar. Dr. Ciuffo’s is renowned for his success and his caring nature to all patients. Nearby Hotels Many of our patients travel to Canton with family members. We want your family to be comfortable while you’re visiting us for a consultation or surgery. There are many accommodations very close to Mercy Medical Center. Canton Inn McKinley Grand Hotel Hampton Inn & Suites Fairfield Inn & Suites Comfort Inn and more Visiting Hours Mercy Medical Center offers open visiting hours. Schedule Your Consultation Today If you or a loved one may be interested in learning more about the benefits of minimally invasive cardiac surgery and the options available at Mercy, contact us today. Call now at (330) 363-1341 or fill out our online contact form. Dr. Ciuffo looks forward to discussing your needs, as well as providing a second opinion to a high risk diagnosis. ... by DrCiuffo | Feb 27, 2015 | Blog, Heart Surgery, Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
There are many types of minimally invasive heart surgeries. Dr. Ciuffo performs a wide range of procedures to meet the needs of most cardiovascular patients. Dr. Ciuffo works with you or your loved ones to help decide what procedure is best for you, your health, and your overall quality of life. Minimally invasive heart surgeries are performed through a small incision between the ribs, and the breast bone is not split. This results in quicker recovery times, virtually no scar, and less pain. Types of MIHS There are many different procedures that Dr. Ciuffo performs based on a patient’s cardiac needs. Click through the following to find in-depth information and pictures straight from Dr. Ciuffo. The most common surgeries performed by Dr. Ciuffo are: Bicuspid Aortic Valve Surgery Heart Valve Surgery (Biological or Mechanical) Bloodless Heart Surgery Hybrid Valve Surgery Inoperable Aortic Aneurysm Repair Inoperable Aortic Valve Repair/Replacement Mitral Valve Repair/Replacement Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implant (YAVI) Atrial Myxoma Surgery Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) Repair The minimally invasive option is not available for all cardiac patients, but there are great advantages and less risk associated with it. Advantages of MIHS are typically: Less Blood Loss Lower Infection Risk Less Pain/Trauma Faster Recovery Time Shorter Hospital Stay Virtually Scarless Schedule A Consultation If you or a loved one would like to learn more about our minimally invasive heart surgeries and your options, contact us today! Call our office at (330) 588-4676 or contact us... by DrCiuffo | Feb 2, 2015 | Benefits of Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery, Blog, Heart Surgery, Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
As we’ve continued to describe throughout our site and on our blogs, there are many benefits to getting minimally invasive heart surgery over traditional heart surgery. The main points are with minimally invasive heart surgery, you will have a shorter recovery time, small scarring, better overall health, and some different options to better suit certain preferences (such as bloodless options for Jehovah’s Witnesses). Benefits of Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery Recovery For Dr. Ciuffo’s patients, most are released from the hospital within 48 to 72 hours. Once patients return home, recovery usually lasts for two weeks before patients can return to normal activities. During the two weeks, physical activity is recommended. With traditional surgery, patients can be recovering for six to eight weeks, while their bones heal and body recovers from the much more invasive traditional heart surgery techniques. Minimal “Scarless” Cosmetic The cosmetic result of MIHS is the biggest reasons people choose minimally invasive. The incision is only about two inches long and is typically hidden under the fold of the breast. If the incision is not hidden under the breast it can be hidden under clothing very easily. With traditional heart surgery, patients will have a six to eight inch scar down the center of their chest, which is almost impossible to hide. Overall Health Overall, minimally invasive patients have a much higher overall health benefits including: survival benefits in higher risk groups, better cosmesis, less bleeding and less transfusion requirements, less wound infections and complications, less postoperative pain, faster return to normal activity, and a shorter hospital stay, all which improve the immune system’s chance of overall healing. Bloodless Option For... by DrCiuffo | Jan 21, 2015 | Blog, Heart Surgery, Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery, Scarless Heart Surgery
Minimally invasive heart surgery has many benefits, including shorter recovery time and improved overall health, but the most cited result is typically the cosmetic one. Minimally invasive heart surgery is sometimes called “scarless heart surgery,” because of the nearly invisible scar that results from it. Cardiac patients now have more than one choice when it comes to the treatment for heart conditions and their cosmetic results. Heart Surgery Scar Picture Comparison Traditional (Sternotomy) Scarring Many people are familiar with traditional heart surgery scar. The long 8″ to 12″ incision leaves an unsightly scar, as shown in the graphic to the right. The large scar can be hard to hide with a lower cut or flimsy shirts. In some cases, the gash is the source of confidence issues and it becomes an overall nuisance. If you are researching heart surgery options, and do not want to have a ghastly mark on your body as the one shown, continue reading. Minimally Invasive (Scarless) Scarring The “scarless” heart surgery cosmetic result is shown on the left. Patients can expect a 2″ incision along the skin crease underneath the breast. When fully healed, the scar will turn into a thin white line that is barely visible. This tiny line can be hidden easily under low cut shirts, evening gowns, and the flimsiest of apparel. For female cardiac patients, the scar is usually hidden under the fold of the breast. This is very similar to the technique used by cosmetic surgeons for breast implant placement. See one of our female patients below. The first picture is a good demonstration of the superior cosmetic results we...
