There are many things to think about when you are told you need heart surgery. There are questions to ask and finding answers can be confusing. Dr. Marc Gillinov, Chairman of the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, advises patients to find a center that has expereince and expertise. At Cleveland Clinic, there is a team approach, bringing the best surgeons, doctors, nurses and other professionals together to provide the best care with outstanding outcomes.

Cardiogenic shock is a serious condition that happens when your heart can’t pump enough blood to keep up with your body’s needs. Dr. Michael Tong gives an overview of devices that can help support your heart so it can recover. Cleveland Clinic has a specialized Center for Shock and Circulatory Support that has expertise in each device and develops a plan specifically for each patient. Each device supports the heart in a different way. This specialized team helps determine which device or devices a patient needs.

The American Heart Association defines heart failure in 4 stages. Dr. Amanda Vest, Section Head of Heart Failure and Transplantation Cardiology, reviews these stages and how your doctor defines heart failure.

A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) helps the heart pump blood and is a potential treatment option for people with heart failure. Dr. Michael Tong gives a brief history of how LVADs have evolved over the last few decades to be a durable solution for patients with advanced heart failure.

Dietary recommendations can be confusing. Having a heart condition can make it even more challenging. Dr. Amanda Vest, Section Head of Heart Failure and Transplantation Cardiology, has a special interest in making diet and nutrition choices easier for patients with heart failure. She talks about recommended dietary patterns and considerations for weight management.

Robotic heart surgery has many benefits when done by a skilled surgeon. Drs. Marc Gillinov and Tarek Malas answer the five questions you should think about if you are considering a robotic approach to valve surgery.

Heart failure is a term to describe when your heart is not pumping as well as it should. Dr. Amanda Vest, Section Head of Heart Failure and Transplantation Cardiology, talks about how nutrition plays an important role in heart health.

As blood travels through the heart, it passes through the aortic valve into the aorta. The aorta is the body’s main artery that carries blood to the body. Dr. Eric Roselli, Surgical Director of the Aorta Center, and Dr. Xiaoying Lou talk about how the aortic valve relates to the aorta.