by DrCiuffo | Jan 19, 2017 | Blog
Some patients, because of their age or health, may be deemed “inoperable” by other doctors or surgeons. Luckily, minimally invasive heart surgery procedures are known to be very safe and can be done on these high risk heart surgery patients. In fact, at Dr. Ciuffo’s office, our minimally invasive heart surgery procedures have been highly successful with these types of patients! High Risk Heart Surgery Patients If you are a patient in need of a heart surgery procedure, but have been deemed “inoperable,” there are some steps you can take to get the surgery you need. The first thing to do is to get a second opinion. Not all doctors are the same, and Dr. Ciuffo uses the most cutting edge technology to perform successful, minimally invasive heart surgery procedures for high risk patients. Secondly, ask why you are a high risk patient. Your doctor will most likely blame your age or another health condition that would make the surgery dangerous. Next, Dr. Ciuffo suggests that you ask about your chances of good health if you don’t receive the surgery. Lastly, obtain copies of your medical records and bring all of this information to Dr. Ciuffo, who can give you a second opinion on whether or not you are a high risk patient. The Operation For high risk patients, having an operation done can be scary and worrisome. However, with the advanced technology that Dr. Ciuffo uses, patients can feel secure in knowing that he has a high success rate with minimally invasive heart surgery procedures for high risk patients. These procedures are performed through a small, two-inch incision between... by DrCiuffo | Nov 10, 2016 | Blog
Bloodless heart surgery can be a viable option for those patients deemed “inoperable,” who are old or frail, or who can’t have regular heart surgery due to religious reasons. As opposed to traditional heart surgery, bloodless heart surgery actually has certain benefits related to the careful preparation of each patient for bloodless heart surgery, the precise and meticulous technique during surgery, the thorough postoperative follow-up, and the avoidance of potential side effects and complications related to blood transfusions. Preparation Before Surgery The preparation before bloodless heart surgery is integral to the success of the procedure. First, Dr. Ciuffo will determine if there is any evidence of spontaneous bleeding or anemia. The most common causes of chronic anemia are related to bleeding from ulcers in the stomach or intestine, bleeding from diverticulosis, heavy menstruations, primary anemias. A hematology or gastroenterology evaluation can be requested as necessary. Next, Dr. Ciuffo will administer medications such as Erythropoietin, Iron, and Folic Acid to stimulate the patient’s production of more red blood cells. Ideally, each patient considered for surgery should be treated to ensure a healthy hemoglobin level. Lastly, your doctor will create a surgical strategy to minimize the risk of bleeding while accomplishing a complete, thorough treatment of the heart condition. Blood Sparing Techniques Bloodless heart surgery is known for how minimally invasive it is. Dr. Ciuffo uses techniques that avoid breast bone cutting that could lead to postoperative bleeding. These techniques include: Extra Corporeal Circulation (the heart-lung machine) with or without blood storage. The entire blood volume can be kept in circulation at all times, in compliance with the principles and beliefs of the Jehovah’s witness community. Beating Heart Surgery technique for coronary... by DrCiuffo | Dec 5, 2014 | Blog, Bloodless Heart Surgery, Heart Surgery, Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
Last week, the headlines were full of speculations about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s health and her heart surgery procedure that she underwent to put a stent in her right coronary artery at the MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute in D.C. Heart Surgery For Justice Ginsburg While Justice Ginsburg has been dealing with speculation about her health and age for many years after fighting cancer and the media, there is no doubt that she is an active, robust 81-year old! Some older or unhealthy (i.e. cancer diagnosis, other health issues) individuals are labeled “high-risk” or “inoperable” cardiovascular patients because of the issues related to traditional heart surgery, including broken ribs, slow recovery time, and healing problems. Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery Dr. Ciuffo’s techniques help make life-saving heart surgery available to all people, no matter their age or health. Minimally invasive and bloodless surgery techniques are great options for cardiovascular patients who need to take more caution when undertaking any surgical experience. Minimally invasive techniques eliminate the need to make giant incisions along a patients chest and break the ribs and sternum, reducing the need for long, agonizing recovery times. Typically, minimally invasive patients can return to normal activity in a matter of days. Blood saving heart surgery techniques minimize the need for blood transfusions which can cause allergic reactions and also slow healing times for patients. Bloodless surgery is also the surgery of choice for Jehovah Witnesses, who cannot accept blood transfusions due to their religious beliefs. Request A Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery Consultation Today If you’re interested in receiving a cardiovascular consultation, because of a “high-risk” or “inoperable” original diagnosis, or... 
by DrCiuffo | Oct 21, 2014 | Articles, Heart Surgery, Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Surgery
Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement Following Barbara Walters’ surgery to treat her aortic valve stenosis, Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement surgery became a more popular term. Her issue was caused by a very common and frequently mistreated heart valve disease in the elderly population of the United States. There is a bias against operating on elderly patients in this country which often denies life-saving procedures on otherwise functional and sharp minded senior citizens. Aortic valve stenosis is a deadly disease that requires immediate attention, and Dr. Giovanni Ciuffo has the experience, skill, and will to help families. What Is Aortic Stenosis? Aortic Stenosis is a condition that causes the aortic valve to be too narrow. This forces your heart to work extra hard to push adequate amounts of fresh oxygenated blood against a tight, barely opening valve. Mechanically speaking, a heart with aortic stenosis develops a much higher internal pressure to assure the same pumping action and output of a normal heart. The risks of this condition can be chest pain, lack of breath, troubled breathing, heart attack, stroke, and death. Why Choose Dr. Ciuffo? Dr. Ciuffo’s experienced staff, dedicated team, and professional surgical experience set him apart from the crowd. His experience with minimally invasive aortic valve replacement is profound. His focus is on skillful surgery, quick recovery, and patient health. The vast majority of our patients are ready to go home in two or three days with specific arrangements for a visiting nurse and physical therapy service. We would be delighted to answer your questions and receive your comments and suggestions. Contact us directly at the office to discuss any specific... by DrCiuffo | Sep 14, 2014 | Blog, Bloodless Heart Surgery, Heart Surgery
Why Bloodless Heart Surgery Bloodless Heart Surgery is one of the most important aspects of the techniques developed for cardiovascular minimally invasive heart surgery patients. There are many reasons why cardiovascular patients choose bloodless heart surgery, including: due religious beliefs (typically Jehovah’s Witnesses) concern over HIV/AIDs, hepatitis, and other blood-borne viruses to avoid allergic reactions to avoid inflammatory reactions to keep the immune system strong By using the bloodless techniques (including minimally invasive heart surgery), patients can avoid the risks outlined above and maintain their immune systems level of strength. Recent health studies have confirmed that patients who did not receive a blood transfusion at the time of surgery have better postoperative longevity. Our efforts to pursue bloodless techniques help our patients lengthen and improve their life. Bloodless Preparation and Technique Preparation is extremely important prior to bloodless heart surgery. We will work together to adjust medications to boost a patient’s red blood cell creation and investigate any spontaneous bleeding. A surgical strategy is meticulously planned to minimize the risk of bleeding during the surgery. During surgery, blood-sparing techniques and technologies are employed and modified based on the surgical strategy developed prior to surgery, as well as the patient’s beliefs and preferences. Minimally invasive cardiac surgery techniques avoid breast bone cutting which increases the chances of post-operative bleeding. To learn more about the specific techniques including using the extracorporeal circulation technique, beating heart technique, and blood salvage, visit our detailed Bloodless Heart Surgery page. After surgery, blood loss continues to be minimized and intensive care protocols are implemented to manage anemia. Learn More To learn more about the motivation and benefits behind...
