At Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons (CTVS), we’re always looking for ways to make surgery safer, recovery faster, and life afterward better. As of late, one of the most exciting advancements we’ve brought to Central Texas is a pain-control technique that literally freezes away pain after open-heart surgery … and the results have been nothing short of remarkable.

Recently featured on KXAN News, our own Dr. Eric Hoenicke, M.D., demonstrated how a technology called cryoanalgesia helps patients heal with less pain, fewer painkillers, and more confidence.

Turning Down Pain … With Cold

When Anastasia Allen, a 38-year-old cardiac nurse, came to CTVS for her second heart valve replacement, she knew exactly what recovery felt like and she wasn’t looking forward to it. After her first open-heart surgery a decade earlier, every laugh, sneeze, or breath was agony.

This time, it was different.

Dr. Eric Hoenicke, M.D., introduced Anastasia to a new pain-management technique called cryoanalgesia, which uses targeted subzero temperatures to “freeze” the pain nerves around the chest incision. Using the AtriCure CryoSphere Max, he applied controlled cooling, around -70 °C, to the nerves surrounding the ribs and breastbone. The cold temporarily stuns those nerves, blocking pain signals for six to eight weeks, precisely when post-surgical discomfort is usually at its peak.

“It’s kind of like giving a long-lasting lidocaine injection to the nerves,” Dr. Hoenicke explains. “With the cryo nerve block, we can decrease the use of narcotics and get patients home comfortably, sometimes even faster.”

A Colder Surgery, a Warmer Recovery

For Anastasia, the difference was immediate. Instead of bracing for every movement, she could laugh, move, and even sneeze without the sharp, breath-stopping pain she once knew.

“I can’t believe it’s not being done for every surgery,” she said. “It just makes such a difference.”

Some patients, Dr. Hoenicke adds, even report “no pain at all,” an almost unheard-of outcome for open-heart recovery.

Why It Matters

Every year, roughly 343,000 open heart surgeries are performed in the U.S. Traditional recovery depends heavily on opioid medications. Cryoanalgesia offers a powerful, non-opioid alternative, reducing pain naturally while helping patients breathe, move, and heal faster.

And CTVS is proud to be one of the few surgical practices in the country using this technology for heart patients.

Is It Right For You?

Cryoanalgesia is considered for many open-heart procedures (e.g., bypass, valve surgery, aortic surgery). For the right patient, it can be a powerful part of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) strategy.

For questions about our vascular, cardiac, or thoracic services, please visit ctvstexas.com or call us at (512) 459-8753 to schedule an appointment.

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