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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. 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 [...]

    5. 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 [...]

    6. 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 [...]

    7. 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, [...]

    8. When Faced With Complex Heart Surgery, Physician Picks Mayo Clinic

      When he learned that he needed heart surgery, Andrew Ross, M.D., knew that in order to take care of his patients, he had to take care of himself. To do that, he turned to Mayo Clinic. Last year, Andrew Ross, M.D., a 44-year-old gastroenterologist who was accustomed to his role as a health care provider, [...]

    9. Mother's Day Has Special Meaning After Stroke and Heart Surgery

      After weathering a stroke and heart valve replacement, the prospect for Ashley Zimmerman to fulfill her dream of becoming a mom seemed dim. But with guidance and care from Mayo Clinic specialists, now Ashley is looking forward to celebrating her first Mother's Day with her baby boy. Marking the milestones in a child's life is [...]

    10. Back on Track After Heart Bypass Surgery

      A suspicious finding during a routine physical led to a diagnosis of coronary artery disease for Mark Guthrie. Heart surgery quickly followed, and now the longtime track and field coach is back to work and feeling great. Mark Guthrie knows how to build a winning team. The longtime collegiate track and field coach has helped [...]
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    April 14, 2020
    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 2019-2020 by U.S. News & World Report.

    Learn more about this top honor

    Cardiovascular Surgery

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