Your heart is located in the center of your chest behind the breast bone (sternum). It is tilted in your chest, with the top part of the heart more on the right side of your sternum. The bottom of your heart is more on the left side of your sternum. The heart is normally about the size of your fist and weighs 10-12 ounces. The adult heart normally pumps (beats) about 50-70 times per minute. It beats faster when you exercise and slower when you sleep.

Your heart has four chambers and four valves that help the blood move through the heart. There are two chambers and valves on the right side of the heart and two chambers and valves on the left side of the heart.

  • Right atrium: upper chamber of the heart that collects blood from your body
  • Left atrium: upper chamber of the heart collects blood from your lungs
  • Right ventricle: lower chamber of the heart that pumps your blood to the lungs; and
  • Left ventricle: lower chamber of the heart that pumps your blood to the body

Heart valves help the flow of blood through your heart.

  • Tricuspid valve: blood flows through this valve from the right atrium to the right ventricle
  • Pulmonary valve: blood flows through this valve from the right ventricle to the lungs
  • Mitral valve: blood flows through this valve from the left atrium to the left ventricle
  • Aortic valve: blood flows through this valve from the left ventricle to the rest of your body

The Heart Surgery Center diagnoses and treats the following diseases and conditions:

  • Aortic aneurysms
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Congenital heart disease in adults
  • Heart arrhythmia

What you need to know before you have heart surgery

  • Variety of surgical options and techniques specific to your needs
  • Anticipated length of stay (ICU and Telemetry)
  • Presence of surgical lines/wires/tubes
  • Potential for additional recovery time in a skilled nursing facility
  • Potential for additional care at home with nurses, therapists, social workers, etc.
  • Postoperative expectations (short and long-term)
  • Postoperative limitations (short and long-term)
  • Follow-up with surgeon and cardiologist
  • Optimal cardiac medication regimens specific to your needs
  • Initiation of a long-term plan for blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure control