{"id":17477,"date":"2013-09-04T12:19:57","date_gmt":"2013-09-04T17:19:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/?p=17477"},"modified":"2018-08-26T09:34:24","modified_gmt":"2018-08-26T14:34:24","slug":"surgeon-spotlight-dr-s-chris-malaisrie-md","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/2013\/09\/04\/surgeon-spotlight-dr-s-chris-malaisrie-md\/","title":{"rendered":"Surgeon Spotlight: Dr. S. Chris Malaisrie Advances Valve Therapy With Minimally Invasive Techniques"},"content":{"rendered":"

I am thrilled to shine our “Surgeon Spotlight” on Dr. S. Chris Malaisrie. Over the years, Dr. Malaisrie’s support of our community has been fantastic. In addition to hosting live educational webinars<\/a>, Dr. Malaisrie has also filmed several videos<\/a> to empower our patients through the surgical process. If you are unfamiliar with this incredibly talented and nice surgeon — who has successfully treated many patients in our community including Janis Kielbasa, Fran Bernstein, and Jeff Petto — I encourage you to continue reading this post.<\/p>\n

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Dr. Malaisrie’s approach to heart surgery<\/h2>\n

As a heart surgeon at Chicago\u2019s Northwestern Memorial Hospital, S. Chris Malaisrie, MD<\/a>, is accustomed to performing surgery in the operating room every day. But he never forgets there is something new to learn with each operation.<\/p>\n

\u201cHeart surgery is a truly enjoyable experience,\u201d says Malaisrie. \u201cTo put someone\u2019s circulation on a machine\u2014to maintain their circulation in an artificial circuit, and stop the heart to operate on its internal structures\u2014is an incredible technical feat, and an enormous responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"\"Dr. S. Chris Malaisrie – Heart Surgeon<\/p>\n

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As associate director for Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute\u2019s Center for Heart Valve Disease and co-director of its Thoracic Aortic Surgery Program, Malaisrie maintains an intense focus on heart valve research and elevating industry best practices. He believes that valve repair will become a more standard operation than heart valve replacement in the coming years, and that the use of transcatheter heart valves for higher-risk patients will also increase dramatically.<\/p>\n

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\u201cTechnology to help us accomplish these less-invasive surgical feats is advancing rapidly,\u201d he says. \u201cThis lightning-fast development of new technologies is a key step in bringing new techniques, safely to the forefront.\u201d<\/p>\n

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A personal experience with surgery<\/h2>\n

The seed of interest in surgery was planted early in Malaisrie: His father was a general surgeon in Baltimore, Maryland, where Malaisrie was raised. \u201cMy father was very good at not bringing work home, but we knew when he got called at home that it was something vitally important.\u201d<\/p>\n

Malaisrie\u2019s interest in medicine truly blossomed when he developed appendicitis in elementary school. \u201cMy father diagnosed me, but he didn\u2019t perform the surgery,\u201d he explains. \u201cMy father was a role model for my future work. When I got sick, he instilled confidence in me during a very frightening moment, and that\u2019s the kind of confidence we heart surgeons want to instill in our patients, our colleagues and co-workers. I learned that from my father.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The path to Chicago<\/h2>\n

Malaisrie graduated from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1998. He completed his residency at Loyola University Medical Center in 2004, and multiple fellowships at Baylor College of Medicine and Stanford Hospital and Clinics.<\/p>\n

He came to call Chicago home when he joined Northwestern Memorial Hospital in 2007. In addition to his other roles, Malaisrie is a member of the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation and an associate professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He is board certified by both the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.<\/p>\n

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Innovating and inspiring at Northwestern Memorial<\/h2>\n

Malaisrie has grown a reputation that brings patients from across the country to see him. His intense interest in Marfan syndrome and related connective tissue disorders has led him to participate in numerous national research efforts. He also focuses on bicuspid aortic valve treatment, aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections.<\/p>\n

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\"\"Dr. Malaisrie In the Operating Room<\/p>\n

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In addition to the full spectrum of cardiac surgery, Malaisrie performs valve-sparing aortic root replacements, aortic arch reconstruction, thoracoabdominal aortic repair and endovascular stent grafting. A big focus of his work is on development and perfection of minimally invasive procedures for patients.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now about 20% of cardiac surgeons perform minimally invasive procedures,\u201d says Malaisrie. \u201cI believe we\u2019re seeing an evolution that will make these procedures much more the norm. They offer easier recovery, less pain, and better cosmetic results\u2014and while they are as safe as standard cardiac surgery, they may be associated with better outcomes. And that\u2019s what I want for my patients.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Research and teaching to reinforce experience<\/h2>\n

\u201cLeading and participating in research efforts is another essential step in advancing cardiac surgery, one I\u2019m very enthusiastic about,\u201d explains Malaisrie. He is currently involved in three research projects related to heart valve disease:<\/p>\n