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Cardiovascular Surgery

The Mayo Clinic experience and patient stories

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care like they've never experienced. See the stories of satisfied Mayo Clinic patients.

  1. Complex heart surgery gives 6-year-old a second chance at childhood

    Amy and Josh Porter were looking for the best pediatric heart surgery program to give their son the best chance at a regular childhood. Then they learned that two of them were working together in a new collaboration. When Mitchell Porter was born, he was diagnosed with heart defects that typi?cally require multiple surgeries over [...]

  2. 84-year-old patient reaches milestone on a left ventricular assist device

    Gayle Wilkerson has lived for 10 years with a left ventricular assist device, a mechanical pump that helps a damaged heart pump blood. The milestone is one not many patients reach. Gayle Wilkerson doesn't accept hero status. Her care team at Mayo Clinic disagrees. At age 84, Gayle, holds the honor of living on a left ventricular [...]

  3. Transplant patient says thanks 'with all my old heart and new one'

    Ernie Hernandez was battling congestive heart failure when he learned his liver was failing, too. On Oct. 26, he found answers to both issues with the first combined heart and liver transplant in Arizona. Ernie Hernandez was used to the hot Arizona sun. He was born and raised in Phoenix and worked as a contractor [...]

  4. 10 years, 2 brothers, 2 transplants: the Wilson brothers' story

    The Wilson brothers' connection goes deeper than the average siblings. They both were in serious need of a heart transplant. The brothers now have new hearts, a new perspective on life, and a new purpose. On the surface, John and Mark Wilson are model brothers. Growing up, the two would playfully pick on each other [...]

  5. Joelle's journey to a new heart

    Cardiomyopathy is a medical term for a number of genetic and nongenetic diseases involving the heart muscle that adversely affect the heart's mechanical pumping function and its electrical system. It can occur in people of all ages, races or genders, and it is a frequent cause of sudden cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death. For [...]

  6. Israeli patient tells his own "life-changing" story of heart surgery during COVID-19 pandemic

    When Yiftah Geva was diagnosed with a heart condition several years ago, he never expected his journey to treatment would take him 6,000 miles away from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was almost six years ago when Yiftah Geva began taking medication to stabilize his blood pressure. Doctors wanted to investigate the cause of [...]

  7. Rising Above Two Challenging Health Conditions

    For years, Joey Del Toro has lived with medical conditions that have affected his abilities and appearance. But Joey hasn't let his health concerns define him. Instead, he's focused his energy on moving beyond them and excelling at the sports he loves. The landscape of Joey Del Toro's youth was colored by medical experiences. Treatments [...]

  8. Embracing His Heart's Passion, Despite Congenital Heart Defect

    Woody Hust, an athlete and outdoorsman, is living his dream in the Rocky Mountains. It's a picture-perfect existence made even more special because he's achieved his goals despite having a congenital heart defect. Thanks to the lifelong, personalized care Woody's received from his Mayo Clinic cardiologist, the sky continues to be the limit for him. [...]

  9. Impromptu Evaluation Uncovers Life-Threatening Heart Disease

    Greg VanBellinger knew from family history that he was at risk for heart disease, but as a fitness enthusiast who stayed on top of his medical appointments, he believed his heart was in good shape. An offhand decision to participate in a fitness evaluation at Mayo Clinic, however, revealed that Greg's heart was not as [...]

  10. Cardiac Surgery Frees Amber Taff to Live Her Life

    When surgery to ease the swelling and irritation that had developed around Amber Taff's heart failed to improve her cardiac function, the 34-year-old decided to take her health into her own hands by going to Mayo Clinic. Amber Taff couldn't say what it was about the old house that caught her eye. But every time [...]
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Feb. 20, 2021

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., has been recognized as one of the top Cardiology & Heart Surgery hospitals in the nation for 2020-2021 by U.S. News & World Report.

Learn more about this top honor

Cardiovascular Surgery

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