One of the leading physician groups in Central Texas, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons (CTVS), has been a pioneer for 65 years in state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical procedures of the heart, lungs, chest, and major blood vessels in the human body.
Individually and collectively, the physicians of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons have amassed a record of medical “firsts” for Central Texas. CTVS performed the first open heart surgery in Central Texas in 1961. CTVS also performed the first coronary artery bypass graft surgery in 1968, the first kidney transplant in 1972, the first insertion of an intra-aortic balloon pump in 1976, the first heart transplant in 1986 (since that time we have performed over 300 heart transplants.), the first Ross Procedure in 1989, the first video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in 1991, the first off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery in 2000, and the first Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) repair using Endoluminal Aortic Stent Graft. The group also founded the first pediatric cardiac surgery program for infants and children in Central Texas and is recognized as being the first in the world to perform the Ross Procedure on a newborn.
While most of our services continue to involve coronary artery bypass surgery, valve replacement and repair, heart transplants and aortic surgery, we pride ourselves on the fact that we care for the entire spectrum of adult congenital and degenerative heart defects as well as vascular interventions.
A tradition of pioneering has earned CTVS physicians international reputations. In addition to surgery, they host international conferences and seminars as well as travel the world to teach other physicians their progressive surgical techniques. Being recognized as a leader in technology among their colleagues, CTVS has traveled throughout the United States for invaluable medical consultations.