BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP, Pa (Northampton County) – Just weeks after opening, St. Luke’s Heart Hospital at the Anderson Campus has completed its first cardiac surgery, marking a major milestone for the new facility dedicated to advanced heart and vascular care.
The complex open-heart procedure involved replacing a patient’s aortic valve and repairing an aneurysm in the ascending aorta, the major blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.
According to St. Luke’s University Health Network, the surgery was performed by Dr. Jose D. Amortegui, chief of cardiac surgery, with assistance from a multidisciplinary team of anesthesia professionals, nurses, perfusionists, technologists and support staff.
The operation was conducted in one of the hospital’s new cardiac operating rooms and addressed two serious cardiovascular conditions during a single procedure.
“This was a meaningful milestone for our entire team,” said Jose D. Amortegui, MD, Chief of Cardiac Surgery at St. Luke’s University Health Network, who performed the procedure. “Completing our first cardiac surgery reflects years of planning, preparation and investment in the future of cardiovascular care. It demonstrates what is possible when highly skilled specialists work together in an environment designed specifically for heart patients. This Heart Hospital was built for moments like this.”
The surgery represents another step in the hospital’s efforts to expand access to specialized cardiovascular treatment for patients throughout the region.
Since opening, St. Luke’s Heart Hospital has reached several milestones, including welcoming its first patients and completing its first procedures in the cardiac catheterization and interventional radiology laboratories.
Hospital officials said the new facility brings cardiac specialists, advanced medical technology and dedicated clinical teams together in one location, allowing patients to receive comprehensive heart and vascular care closer to home.
The hospital’s cardiac operating rooms were designed to accommodate complex procedures requiring coordination among multiple medical specialties, including cardiac surgery, anesthesia and specialized surgical support services.
“When we envisioned the Heart Hospital, our goal was to bring advanced expertise, innovative technology and comprehensive cardiovascular care together under one roof,” Dr. Amortegui added. “Every milestone reinforces the value this hospital brings to our patients, their families and the communities we serve. And this is just the beginning.”
The health network did not provide additional information about the patient or the patient’s recovery following the surgery.
St. Luke’s Heart Hospital is located at the health network’s Anderson Campus and serves as a dedicated center for heart and vascular care.
For more information about St. Luke’s Heart & Vascular services, visit sluhn.org/heart.
