At the beginning of the 21st century, there are new challenges in the realm of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery: The inaugural era is coming to a close, and many cardiac procedures have become standard. A time of consolidation has begun. Presently, the Division of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery is networking with various specialists from other departments that treat patients before and after surgery. Therapy concepts can be tailored and applied successfully with a focus on obtaining best possible outcomes through a comprehensive treatment chain.

The Division of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery represents the field of cardiac surgery at the University Hospital Zurich and, in cooperation with the Division of Cardiovascular Anaesthesiology, also represents the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. Because cardiac and vascular diseases are a great burden for patients and their relatives, the Division provides optimal care, an individually-tailored treatment design, and the latest high-tech surgical treatment methods. It also conducts research projects for the further optimisation of medical care and has a highly qualified and competent team of physicians and nurses. The division has about 40 beds as well as an Intensive Care Unit. Each year, it performs more than 1'800 surgical procedures. The Cardiovascular Regenerative Research Program targets tissue engineering and cell transplantation and is focused on the development and in-vitro generation of novel, cell-based therapies for cardiovascular applications. These include tissue-engineered blood vessels and heart valves as well as microscale strategies for myocardial regeneration.

Our Areas of Specialization include: Minimally invasive cardiac surgery including valve repair, coronary bypass grafting and transcatheter valves, Cardiac rhythm surgery, Aortic surgery, Heart transplants and Vascular surgery.

Volkmar Falk MD
Professor and Chair

University Hospital Zurich
Division of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery
Raemistrasse 100
CH-8091 Zurich
Phone: +41 (0)44 255 32 98
Fax:     +41 (0)44 255 44 46
Email:  herzgefaesschirurgie@usz.ch