Department of Cardiac Surgery - Helios Hospital Siegburg

About the Department of Cardiac Surgery at Helios Hospital Siegburg

The Department of Cardiac Surgery at the Helios Hospital Siegburg offers the full range of surgical treatment for heart disease, with the exception of chest organ transplants. The medical facility successfully performs operations for mitral, aortic, and tricuspid valve replacement and repair, operations for the implantation of pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, and devices for cardiac resynchronization therapy, operations for thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissection, coronary artery bypass grafting, and operations for the implantation of ventricular assist devices and artificial hearts (VAD and TAH). Most surgical procedures are performed using minimally invasive techniques without opening the chest. The department is part of the Heart Center Siegburg, where cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, and vascular surgeons work together for the benefit of patients. Complex clinical cases are considered by medical boards. This allows physicians to develop the most effective course of treatment for each patient. The Heart Center Siegburg treats over 7,000 patients annually, many of whom undergo cardiac surgery. Along with the use of the latest technologies and treatment methods, the department's cardiac surgeons attach importance to a humane attitude towards patients.

The Head Physician of the department is Prof. Dr. med. Mirko Doss. The specialist is one of the best cardiac surgeons in Germany. He has performed thousands of successful heart surgical procedures. Minimally invasive heart interventions are of particular clinical interest to Prof. Mirko Doss.

Surgery for heart valve disease is among the department's clinical priorities. The department's surgeons almost daily perform operations to repair or replace the mitral, aortic, and tricuspid valves. Whenever possible, repair surgery is preferred to preserve the patient's own valve. Surgical interventions on heart valves are performed using minimally invasive techniques, which significantly reduces surgical risks, and the patient's recovery in the postoperative period occurs quite quickly. Heart valve replacement is indicated for patients with mitral, aortic, or tricuspid stenosis. The department's cardiac surgeons perform operations to implant biological and mechanical prostheses. Biological prostheses are made from animal heart tissue (most often pigs). Due to the relatively short service life of biological prostheses (12-15 years), they are recommended for patients over 65 years of age. Young patients undergo surgery to implant mechanical prostheses that have an almost unlimited service life. The disadvantage of a mechanical prosthesis is the need for lifelong use of anticoagulants.

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is one of the most demanded operations in the department. The main indication for CABG is coronary heart disease. Cardiopathology develops due to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries, which leads to a pronounced narrowing of the lumen of the coronary arteries or a complete cessation of blood flow through the blood vessel. Due to the disruption of the blood supply to the heart, the patient experiences a number of unpleasant symptoms, and if left untreated, coronary heart disease may potentially lead to death. Coronary artery bypass grafting is a last-line treatment. Surgery is prescribed in cases of failure of drug therapy and coronary angioplasty. The essence of CABG is to create a bypass that will allow for blood flow without going through the coronary arteries affected by atherosclerosis. A blood vessel from another part of the patient's body is used as a bypass. Surgeons most often use arteries and veins from the leg or chest wall. The purpose of the operation is to normalize the blood supply to the myocardium. The department's specialists successfully perform both the classic version of CABG using a heart-lung machine and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB). In 65% of cases, the department's surgeons perform CABG on a beating heart.

The department's cardiac surgeons also specialize in performing revision coronary artery bypass grafting. It may be required if the patient has recurrent coronary artery stenosis and occlusion years after primary CABG. Cardiac revision surgery is more complex and involves high risks for the patient. The department's specialists have impressive experience in performing such operations. Revision CABG success rates are at a very high level here. Revision coronary artery bypass grafting is often performed in a medical facility without the use of a heart-lung machine.

The department is one of the few in Germany that  brilliantly performs operations to implant mechanical circulatory support systems in patients with heart failure. This disease affects the pumping function of the heart, making it unable to deliver the required amount of blood and oxygen to organs and tissues. The first-line treatment is drug therapy. If this does not give the desired result, doctors may consider the option of implanting a mechanical circulatory support device. The department's cardiac surgeons perform surgery to implant a ventricular assist device (VAD) and a total artificial heart (TAH). TAH implantation is performed extremely rarely. For example, only 7 such systems were implanted in Germany in 2017, 2 of which were implanted in the Department of Cardiac Surgery at the Helios Hospital Siegburg. It is worth noting that the department was one of the pioneers in Germany and Europe in the implantation of total artificial hearts (TAH).

The department's range of surgical services includes the following:

• Surgery for heart valve diseases
  • Mitral valve repair and replacement for mitral valve stenosis and insufficiency
  • Aortic valve repair and replacement for aortic valve stenosis and insufficiency
  • Tricuspid valve repair and replacement for tricuspid valve stenosis and insufficiency
• Coronary artery bypass grafting for coronary heart disease
  • Classic coronary artery bypass grafting with the opening of the chest
  • On-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB)
  • Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting (MIDCAB)
  • Revision coronary artery bypass grafting
• Surgery for arrhythmias (heart rhythm disturbances)
  • Pacemakers and defibrillator implantation
  • Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation
• Surgery for thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissection
  • Endovascular procedures
  • Classical operations
• Surgery for the implantation of mechanical circulatory support devices for heart failure
  • Ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation
  • Total artificial heart (TAH) implantation
• Surgery for infective endocarditis
  • Reconstructive plastic surgery
• Heart tumor resection surgery
  • Minimally invasive surgery
• Other heart surgical procedures