Health and Medicine | MedBlog | UT Southwestern Medical Center

Heart valve surgery without cracking open the chest

With minimally invasive heart valve surgery, surgeons don’t “crack open the chest,” instead going between the ribs through a 2-inch incision.

Neelan Doolabh, M.D.

May 2, 2022

A softball player with heart: Kaitlynn's aortic valve replacement at age 19

Division I softball player Kaitlynn Dawson faced open heart surgery for a leaky bicuspid aortic valve. See how the less-invasive SAVR procedure by UT Southwestern's Dr. Neelan Doolabh got Kaitlynn back on the field in just three months – with a brand new heart valve.

Neelan Doolabh, M.D.

February 26, 2021

First-of-its-kind aortic root and valve surgery saves unique patient's heart

Shelley Lynne had an aortic root aneurysm, a leaky heart valve, and no room in her life for traditional open heart surgery and a long recovery. See how a new procedure designed by UT Southwestern's Neelan Doolabh, M.D., saved Shelley's life – and livelihood.

Neelan Doolabh, M.D.

November 20, 2020

Unique Approach to Minimally Invasive Heart Valve Surgery

Dr. Neelan Doolabh offers a new way to think about – and do – heart valve surgery, and it’s reducing recovery times and improving outcomes.

Neelan Doolabh, M.D.

January 26, 2017

A better way to do heart surgery

Most heart valve surgeries require cutting the breastbone, leading to lengthy recoveries. Now there’s a no-cut alternative available at UTSW.

Neelan Doolabh, M.D.

October 21, 2016

A cardiology powerhouse – and now a community resource

Meet our Cardiology leaders and learn how they’re reaching out to physicians in the community to enhance referral access and become the go-to resource for specialized heart care.

Pradeep Mammen, M.D. / Mark Drazner, M.D. / Ben Levine, M.D. / Mark Link, M.D. / Neelan Doolabh, M.D.

October 6, 2016