Cardiac Surgery
The Cardiac Surgery Department at Wheeling Hospital was established in 1994 and
performs approximately 375 open heart surgeries annually. The multidisciplined team
of specially trained health care professionals and cardiovascular surgeons is committed
to providing personalized medical care through a balance of technology, education
and spiritual support. Two cardiovascular operating suites offer the surgeons the
highest degree of technology to perform coronary bypass surgery, and valve replacements,
edoscopic vein harvesting (a minimally invasive way to harvest the leg vein for
bypass grafting allowing faster healing and a more comfortable recovery), MAZE ablation
therapy and TRM (transmyocardial laser revascularization).
The Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) contains a suite of rooms dedicated just for cardiac patients. The suite provides more resources and dedicated nurses who are highly trained in coronary care.
The cardiovascular intensive care unit currently has eight beds and the cardiovascular
step-down has 12 beds. The average length of stay following heart surgery is three
days.
Service area includes Southeastern Ohio to Zanesville/Cambridge/ Marietta/ Steubenville,
and the West Virginia Northern Panhandle south to Tyler County. Patient volume is
split between Ohio and West Virginia, however, the unit has performed surgery on
patients from Pennsylvania, Illinois, Tennessee and Alabama, as well as from the
Philippines.
Advancements
Advanced therapies in the unit include intra-aortic balloon pump therapy, and ventricular
help for the failing heart with the ABIOMED ventricular assist device. In addition,
dialysis in the SICU are offered for patients with renal failure.
Careers
Those interested in cardiac surgery nursing or surgical technologies as a career
may contact the Nursing Education Department by calling Kathy Stahl at 304-243-3946.
Information
For more information on the cardiac surgery program at Wheeling Hospital, please
call 304-243-2985.