Cardiothoracic Surgery

Message from the Chairman

UAB has earned an international reputation for its comprehensive cardiovascular and cardiothoracic care and surgical expertise, as well as ground-breaking research. For patients, that means they can rest assured that UAB provides access to some of the world’s best surgeons and the highest standard of care available anywhere for any cardiovascular and cardiothoracic illness or condition.

As Director of the UAB Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, I constantly strive to ensure that we have a diverse team of renowned cardiothoracic surgical specialists, each with their own areas of expertise. This is a focus that has continued since 1966 when my father, John W. Kirklin, M.D., came to UAB. Equally important is that at UAB these world-class surgeons make themselves available to anyone in need, 24-hours a day, every day.

From neonatal care to end-stage heart disease or heart and lung transplants, UAB offers not just the best expertise, but patient-focused, compassionate and personalized care.

- James K. Kirklin, M.D.

Watch Dr. Kirklin discuss Cardiothoracic Surgery

Appointment/Referral Information Cardiothoracic Surgeons Programs Conditions Procedures Research Trials Heart and Vascular Glossary

UAB is the region's most comprehensive and advanced healthcare facility for treating cardiovascular and thoracic disorders.

Here, some of the world's most sought-after and experienced surgeons operate in state-of-the-art facilities, backed by nationally recognized nursing care. UAB's cardiothoracic surgeons include respected pioneers in their fields, as well as leading researchers and innovators in essentially all areas of pediatric and adult cardiothoracic surgery. UAB is a national leader in the following areas of cardiothoracic surgery:

• Heart and lung transplantation
• Minimally invasive thoracic surgery
• Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery
• Lung and esophageal cancer surgery
• Cardiothoracic surgery for neonates, infants, children and adults
• Heart valve repair or replacement and surgical treatment of other valvular heart diseases
• Diseases of the thoracic aorta
• The use of ventricular assist devices as a bridge or ultimate therapy for end-stage heart disease.

UAB is also the only facility in the state performing heart and lung transplantation, complex mechanical circulatory support, complex neonatal and infant heart surgery, and complex airway reconstructions.

But, beyond the technology and experience is a staff committed to healing and fully recognizing each patient's unique needs. There is a one-to-one nurse-patient ratio for pediatric and cardiac transplantation patients and a one-to-two nurse-patient ratio maintained for all other cardiac intensive care unit patients.

The recently enhanced neonate, infant and pediatric cardiothoracic surgery program truly makes UAB a national leader in cardiothoracic care for patients of all ages.

A Wide Range of Surgical Options With a Long History of Excellence

UAB's Cardiothoracic Surgery Services provides surgical options not available elsewhere in the region and programs considered among the most respected in the world. The division has a long history of excellence and performs about 2,000 open heart procedures alone each year and has performed about 45,000 such operations since 1966.

The department has implanted over 170 ventricular assist devices either as a bridge to cardiac transplantation or as a permanent solution to severe heart failure.

Among the complete range of cardiovascular and thoracic disorders treated are coronary artery disease; valvular heart disease; congenital heart disease; acute and chronic diseases of the thoracic aorta; various kinds of pulmonary disease; lung cancer; emphysema; esophageal disease; diseases of the mediastinum pleura, chest wall esophagus and diaphragm; end stage heart and lung disease.

Appointment/Referral Information
For information on the clinic and how to make an appointment, please follow this link.

Cardiothoracic Surgeons
UAB has a world-class cardiothoracic surgical staff. To find out more about their backgrounds and areas of expertise, please follow this link.

Programs
UAB Cardiothoracic Surgical Services is divided into three programs, Pediatric/Neonatal Cardiothoracic; Adult Cardiac, which treats heart-related conditions; and, Adult Thoracic, which treats conditions in the thoracic, or chest area – including the lungs, chest walls and esophagus.

Conditions
For infomation on some of the conditions treated at UAB, please follow this link.

Procedures
For information on some of the procedures performed at UAB, please follow this link.

Research Trials
For information on research trials at UAB, please follow this link.

Heart and Vascular Glossary
Definitions of heart and vascular terms.