Performing approximately 450 heart surgeries annually, Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Denton provides nationally recognized cardiac care close to home.
The hospital has earned the Society of Thoracic Surgeons’ highest rating of three stars for coronary artery bypass grafting and multiprocedural care.
"The STS rating is very important in heart surgery. There is no other field where we look at outcomes quite so closely as we do in cardiac surgery, so to be able to achieve that STS rating in those categories is very important. It's a very high honor, and it's very difficult to achieve," cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Minh Tran said.
Dr. Tran completed his cardiac surgery fellowship at Johns Hopkins before joining the hospital when it opened in 2014. Since then, Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Denton has continued expanding its services to meet the needs of the growing region, including the addition of a heart failure clinic where patients can receive specialized treatment and medication management.
What cardiac procedures are available?
Coronary artery bypass grafting accounts for approximately 80% of the hospital's heart surgeries. One of the program's specialties is off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery, which allows surgeons to perform the procedure without using a heart-lung machine.
Following the addition of a surgeon specializing in robotic-assisted coronary artery bypass surgery, the program is also working to expand those capabilities.
Additionally, for certain heart valve conditions, the hospital offers a minimally invasive approach that allows surgeons to access the heart through an incision in the side of the chest rather than opening the breastbone, which can shorten recovery time.
Patients with aortic stenosis may be candidates for transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR. This procedure allows specialists to replace the valve using a catheter inserted through the groin.
How does the hospital build customized treatment plans for each patient?
Determining the best treatment for each patient is a collaborative process. The hospital’s heart team approach brings together interventional cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, electrophysiologists and other specialists to evaluate each patient’s unique needs, develop a personalized plan of care and answer questions, all during a single appointment.
“That heart team approach gives the patient options and all of the information that they would need at the same time, instead of having to see [specialists] separately," Dr. Tran said.
What can patients expect during recovery?
For patients preparing to undergo heart surgery, understanding what happens afterward can help make the experience less intimidating.
According to Dr. Tran, patients receive individualized risk assessments before surgery, along with information about what to expect during recovery. While each patient's experience is different, recovery from open-heart surgery typically follows a progression:
The first day after surgery: Patients are often sitting up in a chair and beginning to walk with assistance from physical therapists.
Days two through five: Patients continue walking and building strength while receiving support from physical therapists, dietitians, pulmonologists and more. Most return home within three to five days of surgery.
The first few weeks at home: Patients may receive home health services or continue physical therapy before returning for a postoperative appointment approximately three weeks after surgery.
Four to six weeks after surgery: Patients typically begin outpatient cardiac rehabilitation, which helps them rebuild cardiovascular strength through supervised exercise. Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Denton offers this service on-site.
For Dr. Tran, seeing patients progress through recovery and return with improvements in symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue is one of the most rewarding parts of his work.
That progress also reflects the hospital's broader approach to cardiac care, which brings together specialists to support patients from their initial evaluations through treatment and rehabilitation.
Those interested in learning more can find information here.
Frequently asked questions
What is the typical recovery timeline for a patient after open-heart surgery at the hospital?
While each patient's experience is different, recovery typically begins on the first day after surgery, when patients are often sitting up in a chair and starting to walk with assistance from physical therapists.
Between days two and five, patients continue walking and building strength with support from physical therapists, dietitians, pulmonologists and other specialists. Most patients are able to return home within three to five days of their surgery.
During the first few weeks at home, patients may receive home health services or continue physical therapy before returning for a postoperative appointment about three weeks after surgery. Around four to six weeks after surgery, patients typically begin supervised outpatient cardiac rehabilitation, which is offered on-site at the hospital.
What is off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery, and how does it differ from a standard bypass procedure?
Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery is one of the specialties offered at Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Denton. This specific technique allows surgeons to perform the bypass procedure without using a heart-lung machine.
What rating has the hospital received from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and how common is this achievement?
Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Denton has earned the Society of Thoracic Surgeons' highest rating of three stars for coronary artery bypass grafting and multiprocedural care.
The above story was produced by Senior Multi-Platform Journalist Sydney Heller of Community Impact's Storytelling team, with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community, or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of Baylor Scott & White Health or those medical centers.