CVT Surgical Center is devoted to the surgical care of diseases
of the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Established in 1957
by Dr. Page Acree, the
practice has grown to include 6 cardiac and 4 vascular surgeons.
CVT surgical center has performed over 20,000 open heart operations
and continues to provide care in the setting of the largest
heart surgery practice in Louisiana. Our vascular lab performs
15,000 non-invasive tests each year to evaluate blood vessel
diseases, including carotid stenosis, aneurysms, peripheral
vascular disease and venous insufficiency.
Dr. Page Acree performed the first open heart surgery in Baton
Rouge in 1957. He implanted the first heart pacemaker in the
gulf south in 1959. Since that time CVT Surgical Center has
continued to be a leader in advanced surgical care for complex
cardiac, thoracic and vascular problems. We performed some of
the first coronary artery bypass operations in Louisiana in
1971. Aortic and mitral valve replacement soon became routine
in the early 1970’s.
Dr. Acree was joined by Dr.
David J. Davis in 1972 and by Dr.
B. Eugene Berry in 1974. As the practice grew, Dr.
Carlton H Sheely II (1979), Dr.
Michael T. Hackler (1984), Dr.
R. Scott Thurston (1988), Dr.
C. Swayze Rigby (1989) and Dr.
Walter Bringaze III (1994) and Dr.
William H. Boedefeld II (2008) joined the cardiac surgery
division. In 2013, Dr. Azeem Khan joined our cardiothoracic
surgical staff. Drs. Acree, Davis, Hackler and Berry have since retired.
CVT Surgical Center established a formal vascular surgery
division in 1999 with the coming of Dr.
P. Michael Davis who was joined by Dr.
Michael (Trey) Conners III in 2003, Dr.
James Craven in 2006 and Dr. James W. McNeil in 2008
The practice has been a leader and innovator in all aspects
of cardiac and vascular surgery through the last 30 years.
In cardiac surgery early use of the internal mammary artery
by Dr. Sheely brought improved long term results. The adoption
of retrograde cardioplegia for heart protection during surgery
has allowed safer valve replacement operations. Repair of
the mitral valve for mitral insufficiency has been performed
by CVT since the 1980’s and our surgeons have vast experience
with valve repair. Advances in coronary artery grafting have
also taken place. Beginning in 1998 CVT Surgical Center has
been one of the leading centers in the country for Off Pump
Bypass allowing CABG without the heart lung machine.
In 2005 Dr. Trey Conners placed the first commercially available
thoracic stent graft in the state of Louisiana. In vascular
surgery, Dr. Davis has led the way in the state by performing
the first stent graft for abdominal aortic aneurysm in 1999,
and now has an experience of several hundred cases. Dr. Davis
has also been a principle investigator in the national carotid
stent trial (SAPPHIRE) pursuing less invasive modalities to
treat carotid artery blockage.
The CVT Vascular Lab since 1983 has provided the highest
level of testing for all aspects of vascular disease, and
provides a mobile lab with the ability to serve all the surrounding
parishes in the office or community hospital setting.
The need for advanced treatment of venous disease was served
in 2005 by the opening of the CVT Vein Treatment Center. The
center provides comprehensive care for varicose veins, spider
veins, and chronic venous insufficiency.
CVT Surgical Center provides care at Our Lady of the Lake
Regional Medical Center, and the Baton Rouge General Medical
Center/Bluebonnet campuses. CVT Surgical Center is a private practice with a team of
over 100 staff and support personnel providing Louisiana with
the highest level of surgical care for diseases of the heart,
chest, lungs, blood vessels, and veins. We continue to innovate
and lead as we move forward into the 21st century. |
