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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. 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 [...]

  2. 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. [...]

  3. 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 [...]

  4. 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 [...]

  5. Heart Surgery Keeps Trip Hedrick Swimming Strong

    Photo courtesy of William Jenks Photography After a 20-year history of heart disease that's included a heart attack and stent placements to clear blocked arteries, coronary bypass surgery at Mayo Clinic has helped Trip Hedrick continue pursuing his competitive swimming goals. Looking at him and knowing his competitive swimming background, Clay "Trip" Hedrick seems to [...]

  6. Finding Meaning and Renewal Through Cardiac Care

    Gary Tompkins' heart is damaged from a dangerous cardiac condition. But that hasn't stopped it from feeling joy, love and gratitude for a second chance at life, and for the men and women at Mayo Clinic whose commitment, compassion and friendship has helped him heal. As someone living with the unpredictable and distressing heart rhythm [...]

  7. Surviving Aortic Dissection and Navigating Its Aftermath

    Surviving an aortic dissection is a tale not all patients live to tell. For Eric Salter, living through the traumatic experience was nothing short of miraculous. What's been even more remarkable to the 45-year-old, though, is the life-changing care he's received from his Mayo Clinic cardiologists who are committed to helping him live a long [...]

  8. Pedaling His Way to a Successful Heart Transplant

    Told he needed a heart transplant to stay alive, Greg Williams could have simply sat back and waited. Instead, he chose to take ownership of his health by exercising in his hospital room at Mayo Clinic right up until the day of his transplant in hopes of preparing his body and mind as best he [...]

  9. Nathan and His Team of Medical Superheroes Work to Defeat Cancer and a Host of Scary Complications

    Diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 4-year-old Nathan Herber's health spiraled downward when he was overcome by life-threatening treatment complications. A team of pediatric specialists at Mayo Clinic came to Nathan's aid. And in the end, they restored the boy's health while putting his cancer in remission. Though he may not share all of Super Mario's jumping [...]

  10. Kindhearted Kid Perseveres Through Multiple Heart Surgeries

    Although 3-year-old Matthew Makela and his family have already been forced to deal with a host of serious medical concerns during the young boy's life, they navigate it all with grace and gratitude. Matthew Makela is a kindhearted 3-year-old who tucks in 20 stuffed animals each night at bedtime and gives his younger sister, Emily, [...]
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  1. U.S. News Best Hospitals 2014-15. U.S. News & World Report. http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings. Accessed Aug. 21, 2018.
  2. Tordsen BW. Surgical Information Recording System. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 27, 2015.
  3. Find award-winning hospitals near you. American Heart Association. http://hospitalmaps.heart.org/AHAMAP/map/qimap.jsp. Accessed July 31, 2018.
  4. Mayo Clinic Children's Center becomes first accredited pediatric heart failure institute in Minnesota and fourth in the nation. PressReleaseHeadlines.com. http://pressreleaseheadlines.com/mayo-clinic-childrens-center-accredited-pediatric-heart-failure-institute-minnesota-fourth-nation-174647. Accessed July 31, 2018.
  5. Centers of Excellence. Extracorporeal Life Support Organization. https://www.elso.org/AwardofExcellence/CentersofExcellence.aspx. Accessed July 31, 2018.
  6. Best Internal Medicine Programs. U.S. World News & Report. https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools/internal-medicine-rankings. Accessed Aug. 20, 2018.
  7. Doximity Residency Navigator Internal Medicine Programs. Doximity, Inc. https://residency.doximity.com. Accessed Aug. 20, 2018.
  8. Innovative management strategy for a fetus with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and intact atrial septum. Clinical Updates. https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/clinical-updates/cardiovascular/innovative-management-strategy-for-a-fetus-with-hypoplastic-left-heart-syndrome-and-intact-atrial-septum. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Accessed Sept. 4, 2018.

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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