Cardiac Services

Cardiothoracic Surgery Procedures

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Hospitals across the country are experiencing a decline in the number of bypass surgeries due to more effective medication to lower cholesterol, exercise, diet, angioplasty and stents. Patients who require bypass surgery may have more complex medical problems. They often have extensive coronary artery disease, are older and have comorbidity factors such as diabetes, lung disease, high blood pressure, abnormal kidney function, peripheral vascular disease and previous heart attack with multiple stents. However, with the advent of advanced technology, better perioperative care and improved surgical techniques, the chances of success are better than ever.

The experienced cardiac surgical team at Rhode Island Hospital has continued to have lower morbidity and mortality rates than the national average for coronary artery bypass surgery for many years.

Our three-year averages for these selected procedures exemplify the excellent level of success that is standard at Rhode Island Hospital. Our figures are compared to the national averages compiled by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the benchmark organization for statistical reporting for cardiac surgery. (Figure 3)

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