Cardiovascular Surgery

The Willis-Knighton cardiovascular surgery team has the training, expertise and facilities you need to have a successful heart operation. Let us tell you more about the world-class cardiovascular care we provide.

Board-certified cardiovascular surgeons

We have a robust team of heart and vascular surgeons who are board-certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. Together with our expert anesthesiologists, perfusionists, physician assistants, nurses and rehabilitation specialists, the cardiovascular team performs more than 600 surgeries a year—making us the leader in the region. 

And while our cardiovascular surgeons are the trusted experts, they deeply value the role of their support team in the success of the patient. That spirit of teamwork has helped lead to some extraordinary outcomes for our patients at the Heart & Vascular Institute.

State-of-the-art surgical facilities

We built the Willis-Knighton Heart & Vascular Institute to give the Shreveport-Bossier community quality care that’s close to home. With multiple cardiac operating rooms, a hybrid surgical suite, and many cath and EP labs, we’re well equipped to help all members of the community with even the most complex cardiovascular procedures.

Our cardiovascular surgeries and technologies

As one of the largest, most technologically advanced facilities in the Ark-La-Tex, we perform most cardiothoracic surgeries. Surgeries can be scheduled electively, but because our cardiovascular surgeons are available 24/7, we perform many emergency and lifesaving operations.

Procedures we perform include:

• Coronary artery bypass graft surgery
  • Off-pump bypass graft surgery
• Tricuspid valve surgery
• Carotid Endarterectomy
• Robotic lung surgery
• Lung lobectomy and resection surgeries
• Video Assisted Thoracoscopic (VATS) lung resection surgery
• Esophagectomy
• Epicardial pacemaker
• Convergent ablation
• Aortic valve surgery
• Minimally invasive heart surgery
• Mitral valve surgery

Surgical technologies and procedures we use include:

• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
• EKOS EndoWave infusion catheter system
• Impella 5.0 heart pump using endovascular cannulation

Cardiovascular Surgery Coordinator

Preparing for cardiovascular surgery can sometimes feel overwhelming not only for patients but also for their families. Your primary contact point at Willis-Knighton is the Cardiovascular Surgery Coordinator (CV Surgery Coordinator). The CV Surgery Coordinator will facilitate your visit to the Willis Knighton Heart & Vascular Institute.

You can contact the CV Surgery Coordinator by calling (318) 212-8551.