IRCCS ISMETT’s Cardiac Surgery Unit is a center of excellence for the treatment of adult cardiovascular diseases. In 2025, the Unit performed 765surgical procedures, reaching a total since the program began to over 6,800.
According to the AGENAS National Outcomes Program, IRCCS ISMETT’s 30-day mortality rate for coronary artery bypass grafting is approximately 0.84–0.85%, significantly lower than the national average (approximately 2.1–2.2%). These results place IRCCS ISMETT among the Italian centers with the best outcomes for this procedure.
The Unit provides elective, urgent, and emergency care and features a hybrid OR room equipped with state-of-the-art technology.
Conditions Treated
The Unit provides diagnosis and treatment for:
Aortic, mitral, and tricuspid valve disease requiring surgery, including stenosis, regurgitation, and degeneration
Thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms
Acute aortic dissection
End-stage heart failure
Surgical Procedures
Coronary Artery Surgery
Coronary artery bypass grafting is performed either with a cardiopulmonary bypass or off-pump, depending on the patient’s clinical conditions. Since 2015, over 1,500 coronary artery bypass procedures have been performed. The procedure is also available using a robotic approach with the da Vinci system, a first in Southern Italy. This minimally invasive technique uses three small incisions in the chest, requires no cardiopulmonary bypass, and allows for shorter hospital stays and faster recovery.
Heart Valve Surgery
Aortic, mitral, and tricuspid valve replacement and repair are performed using conventional or minimally invasive techniques. Since 2015, over 4,000 heart valve procedures have been performed. Valve repair is preferred whenever anatomically feasible, with the aim of preserving native valve function. IRCCS ISMETT ranks first in Sicily for heart valve surgery outcomes, with a 30-day mortality rate of 1.71% vs. a national average of 2.42%.
Aortic Disease
Aortic aneurysms and dissections are treated using surgical, endovascular, or hybrid techniques, combining surgery and interventional cardiology during the same procedure.
Heart Failure and VADs
Surgical treatment of advanced heart failure includes the implantation of ventricular assist devices (VADs), either as a bridge to transplantation or as destination therapy. More than 120 VADs have been implanted since the program began.
Adult Congenital Heart Disease
The Unit provides surgical treatment for congenital heart defects not corrected during childhood or requiring re-surgery in adulthood.
Urgent and Emergency Care
The Unit provides 24/7 care for cardiovascular emergencies. Acute aortic dissection is one of the main life-threatening emergencies treated by the team.
