Cincinnati (January 7, 2022) – The Christ Hospital Heart & Vascular Institute (TCHHVI) is honored to announce it has recently been awarded a distinguished three-star rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for patient care and outcomes in isolated mitral valve replacement and repair (MVRR) surgery from 2018 to 2021. The STS three-star rating denotes the highest category of quality, which places TCHHVI among the elite for MVRR surgery in the United States and Canada.
TCHHVI is nationally ranked by US News and World Report as one of the top 50 U.S. hospitals for cardiology and heart surgery. The STS rating is further proof of the cardiac care team’s well-earned reputation as vanguards in heart care and the Institute’s commitment to providing patients with innovative treatments for heart valve disease.
“We’re thrilled about this rating,” said Dean Kereiakes, MD, FACC, FSCAI, President, The Christ Hospital Heart & Vascular Institute and Medical Director, The Christ Hospital Research Institute. “This validates our national credibility and expertise, and it is also humbling because we have a vision of how much further we want to go to serve our patients with innovative medical options and surgical techniques for faster recoveries and better outcomes.”
The exceptional Mitral Valve Program is led by nationally acclaimed expert robotic surgeon, J. Michael Smith, MD, Medical Director of The Christ Hospital’s Cardiovascular and Mitral Valve Surgery Program.
A pioneer in the field of robotic-assisted surgery, Smith explained how the use of robotic-assisted surgical tools enables TCHHVI to provide patients with a multitude of advanced and minimally invasive cardiac treatments—not always found at other regional hospitals.
“Surgery to repair a leaky mitral valve is performed with leading-edge robotic instruments, a remarkable technology that gives surgeons finger-like dexterity during the procedure,” he said. “This technology has revolutionized valve surgery.”
Five million individuals (twice the population of Mississippi) are diagnosed annually with heart valve disease, which alters the flow of blood through the heart. Stenosis, the most common form of the disease, occurs when a valve becomes stiff and fails to completely open; regurgitation occurs when a heart valve fails to close properly and blood leaks back into the heart.
In the Tristate, as many as 85% of individuals with a single diseased heart valve are candidates for a minimally invasive procedure, but early detection is crucial to saving lives. Left untreated, a leaky or diseased valve puts strain on the heart and may lead to heart failure, stroke, and sudden death. Smith, the most widely recognized heart surgeon in the region, has performed more than 3,500 robotic heart surgeries to date.
“The difference is significant,” he said. “Robotically treated patients spend about one hour less in surgery, receive fewer and smaller incisions, leave the ICU a day earlier, and spend one less day in the hospital—compared to those treated with conventional minimally invasive surgery.”
Since 2013, the Institute has performed many thousands of minimally invasive surgeries for mitral, aortic, tricuspid, and pulmonary valve repair and replacements.
About The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)
Founded in 1964, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons is a not-for-profit organization representing more than 7,600 surgeons, researchers, and allied health care professionals worldwide who are dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcomes for surgeries of the heart, lungs, and esophagus, as well as other surgical procedures within the chest. It seeks to improve the lives of patients with cardiothoracic diseases and to advance cardiothoracic surgeons’ delivery of the highest quality patient care through collaboration, education, research, and advocacy.
About The Christ Hospital Health Network
The Christ Hospital Health Network is an acute care hospital located in Mt. Auburn, with a remote hospital location in Liberty Township, five ambulatory outpatient centers, and dozens of offices conveniently located throughout the region. More than 1,300 talented physicians and more than 6,000 dedicated team members support the Network. Its mission is to improve the health of the community and to create patient value by providing exceptional outcomes and the finest experiences, all in an affordable way. U.S. News & World Report named The Christ Hospital Heart & Vascular Institute—for the seventh consecutive year—the #1 hospital in Greater Cincinnati for cardiology and heart surgery. The Network is named one of Healthgrades “America’s 50 Best Hospitals” for being in the top 1% in the nation for providing the highest clinical quality year after year. It is also a Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award recipient, which recognizes top-performing healthcare organizations that achieve the 95th percentile or above for performance in patient experience. The Christ Hospital is among a select number of hospitals in the nation to be awarded Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence. For more than 130 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to those it serves.