The array of advanced surgeries and techniques offered at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital sets our hospital apart:

Off-Pump Heart Surgery
Imagine surgery being done on a beating heart. That’s what happens during off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. Because the heart is not stopped, the patient does not need to be put on a heart-lung
machine. The off-pump approach is associated with less need for blood transfusions, decreased risk of stroke, shorter hospital stays and a quicker return to normal activities.

Transmyocardial Laser Revascularization (TMR)
This procedure relieves chest pain by using a laser to drill holes in the heart. It is believed that TMR stimulates angiogenesis, the new growth of blood vessels. The procedure is used for patients who are unable to undergo bypass surgery, and sometimes in conjunction with bypass surgery.

Surgical Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
Atrial fibrillation is a kind of arrhythmia (irregular heart beat) caused by extra pathways of electricity in the heart’s electrical system. It can lead to stroke and other problems. Surgical atrial fibrillation ablation uses such energy sources as microwave and radiofrequency to eradicate these extra pathways.

Stroke-Saving Heart Surgery

The team at FVRH uses tools and techniques designed to minimize the chance of heart surgery causing stroke or other neurocognitive damage. These steps include identifying patients who may be at risk; using ultrasound on the aorta to avoid weak areas; using a filter to catch debris that may cause stroke, kidney or other damage (for on-pump procedures, such as valve replacements); using medications that decrease
inflammation; monitoring brain activity during surgery; and performing trans-esophageal echocardiogram on all patients with potential emboli (clots, bacteria, air or other things that can block blood vessels).