S

Saphenous Vein. A large vein in your leg often used by the heart surgeon to make a new vessel, or graft, around the blocked portion of an artery of your heart. These veins are "spares", and removing them usually does not affect blood flow to your lower extremities.

Septal Defect. Any defect or hole in the septum of the heart.

Stent. A small device, a metal coil or mesh tube, placed in an artery after angioplasty or atherectomy. The stent helps prevent the artery from narrowing again.

Sternum. Sometimes referred to as the breastbone, this is the structure to which your ribs are attached in the front of your chest. The heart resides directly under the sternum, and the sternum is usually cut to provide access by the heart surgeon to the heart.

T

Thoracic surgery. Any surgery involving the surgical opening of the chest cavity.

Thorascoscopy

Thoracotomy. Chest incision.

TMR (Trans-Myocardial Revascularization) Laser Surgery. This new procedure uses a laser device to burn small holes into the heart tissue to encourage revascularization (new vessel growth) of diseased heart muscle. This procedure can be a stand-alone procedure or done in conjunction with coronary by-pass surgery. It is frequently performed on the beating heart. South Texas Cardiothoracic has five surgeons trained in this procedure.

Tricuspid Valve. The valve between the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart.

V

VAD. Ventricular Assist Device. A pump implanted into a patient to assist the heart with pumping blood. The implanted pump is placed in a pocket created in the upper abdominal wall. The device is removed when the patient own heart heals, a total artificial heart is placed, or the patient undergoes heart transplantation.