Cardiac Surgery

State-of-the-Art Care from Mary Washington Healthcare

Our cardiovascular program at Mary Washington Healthcare offers the latest techniques in minimally invasive procedures as well as traditional techniques and surgery to treat heart conditions. You will receive the level of care that’s expected from a major medical center with attention to your comfort and unique needs.Our enrollment in leading-edge clinical studies make patient treatment options available that might not be accessible through other cardiovascular programs. We help you gain the skills you need to sustain good health during your recovery and beyond.

Visit Mary Washington Medical Group Virginia Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery

Medical Director of Cardiovascular Surgery

Alex Sang Ho Na, MD, Medical Director of Cardiovascular Surgery, has a level of clinical expertise unmatched in our region. A board-certified, fellowship trained cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Na has completed more than 3,500 surgical procedures to address adult cardiovascular disease with exceptional quality outcomes that are better than national standards.

Cardiovascular Surgery Team

Your multidisciplinary care team has many years of experience working together in this specialized field. Our board-certified, fellowship trained cardiothoracic surgeons offer a high level of clinical expertise, and have 40+ years of experience and nearly 10,000 surgical procedures combined.

Treatments include:

• CABG (both conventional and off-pump heart by-pass surgery) with endoscopic vein harvesting and/or radial artery conduit
• Multi-valve replacement/repair
• Complex mitral valve repair
• Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement
• MAZE procedure for atrial fibrillation
• Aortic Arch reconstruction surgery for aneurysm, dissection and traumatic injury
• Adult congenital heart surgery
• Cardiac tumor excision

In addition to our surgeons, surgery team, nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, we also bring together experts in nutrition, occupational and physical therapy, exercise physiology and cardiac rehab and other specialties based on your specific needs.

Cardiac Surgery Quality Committee

Upon referral from a cardiologist, your case is evaluated by our multidisciplinary heart surgery team which makes recommendations about the best treatment for you. To develop quality improvement strategies that align us with the top performing hospitals in the country we have a Cardiac Surgery Quality Committee. This team, comprised of representatives from all healthcare disciplines pertinent to our cardiovascular patients, meets monthly to address blood conservation, ventilator management and reducing known complications from cardiac surgery such as atrial fibrillation, renal failure and stroke. The committee meets monthly to review all patient outcomes and look for opportunities to improve the care you receive.

If you have any concerns or questions regarding the program or your care, please contact our Cardiac Surgery Program Manager Mike Brown by calling 540.372.7792.

Cardiac Surgery Nurse Navigator

A cardiac surgery nurse navigator, who promotes a holistic environment for recovery, is a resource for patients and family members.

Your cardiac nurse navigator:

• Educates you on what will happen before, during, and after surgery
• Acts as liaison between you and your cardiac surgery team
• Informs you and your family about the different phases of recovery
• Gives you information and tool to assist your recovery
• Helps you experience a smooth discharge
• Assists you and your family with FMLA and work-related documentation

Before you leave the hospital, she ensures that you understand how to take care of your wounds, how to take your medications and how to take and chart your blood pressure and heart rate to share at your follow-up appointments.

Retired Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Bill Howell underwent emergency heart surgery at
Mary Washington Hospital in January, 2018, following a significant heart attack.
We had the chance to sit down with Speaker Howell and his wife Cessie to hear his story of healing and faith.

Cardiovascular Surgery Patient Experience

Your successful treatment and recovery require a focus on your mind and spirit in addition to your body.

You will experience the following:

• First Consult: You will be introduced to a nurse practitioner who will perform a physical examination and ask a number of questions about your family and medical history.
• Second Consult: A multidisciplinary, collaborative team including Dr. Na, will discuss your treatment options with you and your family. We will determine the best treatment for you.
• Third Consult: You will meet with your cardiac nurse navigator, an individual who will provide you with education and support before and during your treatment and recovery.

Cardiovascular Surgery Hospital Stay

Following surgery, you will be in recovery in the Intensive Care Unit. A specially trained team of surgical intensivists, cardiac physicians, nurses, therapists and physician extenders will be responsible for monitoring your condition and providing state-of-the-art care in our Cardiac Surgery ICU. As your recovery progresses, you will move to our cardiac step-down unit which is staffed by nurses specially trained to meet the needs of the post-surgical cardiac patient.