Cardiovascular Surgery in Ocala, Florida
Hearing that you need heart surgery can be one of the most frightening moments of a patient’s life. At Florida Heart & Vascular Institute, our goal is simple: make sure you understand exactly what’s happening, why it’s necessary, what the procedure involves, and what recovery looks like — before you ever agree to anything. Our cardiovascular surgery team operates out of our dedicated Surgery Center at Ocala SW 17th Street, open seven days a week, staffed by experienced, board-certified cardiovascular surgeons and cardiac anesthesiologists.
Our Cardiovascular Surgery Center
Unlike hospital-based cardiac programs where your surgeon may rotate between three campuses, our Surgery Center at Ocala SW 17th Street is exclusively focused on cardiovascular procedures. That means the nurses know cardiac patients. The equipment is purpose-built for cardiac cases. And your surgeon is the same person you met in clinic — not a covering colleague.
The Surgery Center is open seven days a week, which means urgent procedures aren’t delayed to fit a hospital schedule. For elective procedures, we offer scheduling flexibility that most hospital systems simply can’t match.
Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures We Perform
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)
When one or more coronary arteries are severely blocked — often in patients with three-vessel disease or left main disease — bypass surgery creates a new route for blood to reach the heart muscle. A healthy blood vessel is taken from your leg, arm, or chest wall and used to bypass the blocked section. The result is restored blood flow, relief from chest pain (angina), and significantly reduced heart attack risk.
Most CABG patients spend 5–7 days in the hospital, with full recovery typically taking 6–12 weeks. Your surgeon will give you a realistic, individualized timeline based on your age, overall health, and the complexity of your procedure.
Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
Not all heart surgery requires a full sternotomy (cutting through the breastbone). For appropriate candidates, minimally invasive approaches use smaller incisions, cause less trauma to surrounding tissue, and allow for significantly faster recovery. We’ll evaluate whether you’re a candidate for a minimally invasive approach during your surgical consultation.
Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) Coordination
For patients with advanced heart failure, an LVAD is a mechanical pump implanted to help a weakened left ventricle pump blood. FHVI coordinates LVAD evaluation and implantation in collaboration with our advanced heart failure specialists.
Pericardiectomy
When the pericardium (the sac surrounding the heart) becomes chronically inflamed and scarred — a condition called constrictive pericarditis — removing it surgically can restore normal heart function. This procedure is rare but can be life-changing for the right patient.
What to Expect: Before, During & After Cardiovascular Surgery
Before Your Surgery
Preparation typically begins 1–2 weeks before your scheduled date. Your surgical team will review all your current medications — some blood thinners and anti-inflammatory medications need to be paused. You’ll fast for 8 hours before surgery (nothing to eat or drink). Stop smoking as early as possible; tobacco use significantly increases the risk of post-surgical complications. The morning of surgery, shower with the antiseptic soap your team provides.
During Your Surgery
You’ll be under general anesthesia, meaning you’ll be completely asleep and feel nothing. A cardiac anesthesiologist manages your sedation, airway, blood pressure, and monitors your heart throughout the procedure. For open procedures requiring the heart to be stopped temporarily, a heart-lung bypass machine maintains circulation.
After Your Surgery
You’ll wake up in our post-surgical recovery area with monitoring equipment attached. A breathing tube is typically removed within a few hours as you wake up and regain respiratory function. Most cardiac surgery patients are walking short distances within 24 hours of surgery. Hospital stay varies by procedure — typically 2–7 days. Full recovery at home takes 4–12 weeks depending on the type of surgery and your baseline health.
Why Choose FHVI for Cardiovascular Surgery?
- Dedicated cardiac Surgery Center — not a shared multi-specialty facility
- Open 7 days a week — urgent cases aren’t delayed to Monday
- You’ll meet your surgeon before the procedure and see them at every follow-up
- On-site cath lab coordination — if a cath procedure precedes surgery, it happens in the same building
- Medicaid and self-pay patients welcome — call (352) 572-7730 to discuss your specific plan
- Â
Frequently Asked Questions: Cardiovascular Surgery
A: This is the most important question to ask, and it’s one your FHVI surgeon takes very seriously. Surgery is not the first recommendation for most cardiac patients — medication management, lifestyle changes, and catheter-based procedures (like angioplasty and stenting) are always considered first. Surgery is typically recommended when: arteries are too extensively blocked for stenting, multiple vessels are involved, valve disease has reached a critical level, or other treatments have been tried and failed. Your surgeon will show you the imaging and explain exactly why surgery is the recommended path for your specific situation.
A: It depends on the procedure. A minimally invasive valve procedure may mean 2–4 days. Coronary artery bypass surgery typically involves 5–7 days. More complex procedures may require longer. Your surgeon will give you a realistic estimate before your surgery date, and your actual discharge depends on your vitals, wound healing, and mobility.
A: Plan for 4–12 weeks of structured recovery, depending on your procedure. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons notes that most bypass patients begin feeling significantly better around 4–6 weeks post-surgery. During recovery, you’ll have activity restrictions (no lifting over 10 lbs initially), wound care instructions, dietary guidance, and a medication schedule. Cardiac rehabilitation — a structured, supervised exercise and education program — typically starts 4–6 weeks after surgery and is strongly recommended to accelerate and sustain your recovery.
A: It depends on the procedure, your baseline blood count, and how surgery goes. Your surgeon will discuss your personal likelihood of needing a transfusion during your pre-surgical consultation. If you have concerns about blood transfusion for religious or personal reasons, tell your surgeon at the first appointment — there are protocols to minimize transfusion need.
A: All major surgery carries risk. General risks of cardiac surgery include bleeding, infection, stroke, arrhythmia, and — in rare cases — death. The specific risk level for your procedure depends on your age, heart function, other medical conditions, and the complexity of the surgery. Your FHVI surgeon will walk through your personal risk profile in detail before asking you to make any decision. We never recommend surgery when the risks outweigh the expected benefit.
A: Yes. Our Surgery Center is located at our Ocala SW 17th Street Flagship clinic at 1609 SW 17th St Suite 100, Ocala, FL 34471. It is open seven days a week. If you’re coming from Davenport, Lake Wales, Lehigh Acres, or another FHVI service area, we’ll coordinate your pre-operative workup at your closest clinic and your surgery at Ocala.
A: Yes. We accept Medicare, Florida Medicaid, and most major commercial insurance plans. Self-pay rates are available for uninsured patients. Call (352) 572-7730 and our patient services team will verify your benefits before your surgical consultation.
 Book Your Cardiac Catheterization Consultation — Call (352) 572-7730