As a result, patients often become healthier and stronger before they undergo transplant surgery. P.A. surgeons have begun performing a new surgical technique at the Texas Heart Institute on certain patients with enlarged, failing hearts. It is hoped that this operation may be an alternative to heart transplantation for some patients. The procedure, called left ventricular reduction or Batista procedure , involves removing a slice of muscle from the enlarged heart and sewing the heart back together. By reducing its size, the heart can pump more efficiently and vigorously.
Surgeons can use heart assist devices as bridges to the left ventricular reduction procedure.
By implanting the assist device and permitting the heart to rest, the damaged heart cells may return to normal. The assist device can then be removed, and a left ventricular reduction can be performed. Thus far, the results have been promising. Surgical Associates of Texas, P.A., the cardiovascular surgical team at the Texas Heart Institute, have more experience than any other cardiovascular surgical group in the world, having performed approximately 100,000 open heart surgeries of all types and degrees of complexity and over 800 heart transplants. Many of our patients have had successful operations and recovery when previously led to believe that no further treatment options were possible.