DEBORAH surgeon hits milestone: 10,000 open-heart procedures

By the end of 2005, Lynn McGrath, M.D., Deborah Heart and Lung Center’s Vice President of Medical Affairs, Chair of the Medical Staff and Chair of the Department of Surgery, had passed the 10,000th open-heart-surgery milestone. This record achievement is one very few cardiothoracic surgeons in the world have reached. Most hospitals reaching this number do so only by collectively counting the surgeries performed by all their doctors.

Dr. McGrath’s milestone includes surgical success in healing all ages with a variety of heart conditions. About 50 percent of his surgeries performed since 1985 are coronary bypasses. Another 20 percent have been to heal acquired and valve-related heart conditions, and the remaining 30 percent are complex congenital repairs in adults and children.

“I have been fortunate to not only witness but participate in the revolution within cardiac surgery,” he says. And after 20 years as a cardiac surgeon, he adds, “I’m still hoping to improve on well-choreographed routines to achieve the perfect surgery.”