Advanced Cardiovascular Services

From cutting-edge treatments and life-saving interventions, to groundbreaking clinical research, CommonSpirit offers the full continuum of complex care to referring physicians and their international patients.

Experience that matters

Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston, Texas, together with Baylor College of Medicine—ranked as one of the top medical schools in the United States—has an unparalleled level of research capability and collaboration that paves the way for continued clinical breakthroughs.

The U.S. News & World Report recently recognized Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center as one of the best hospitals in the country for cardiology and heart surgery.

World-class cardiovascular care by the numbers

1^st

in the U.S. to successfully perform fully robotic heart transplant

1^st

total artificial heart implant performed in the world

1^st

clinical trial sites for heart in the United States

30,000+

interventional cardiology procedures

1,600

heart transplants performed to-date

120,000+

open heart procedures

250,000+

cardiac catheterizations

700+

advanced robotic heart surgeries successfully performed to-date

48

physicians as part of our expert cardiovascular medical and surgical team

Breakthrough treatments

From the first implantation of an artificial heart in a human to treating even the most complex conditions, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center has a history of providing hope to patients from all over the world. Through our research and clinical excellence, we are able to achieve more life-changing advancements, discover more methods of prevention, and save more lives than ever before.

Comprehensive services

CommonSpirit Health offers comprehensive cardiovascular care to referring physicians and their international patients, including:

Comprehensive heart failure care and state-of-the-art therapies
Access to major medical and device trials
Heart transplantation and limb salvage
Minimally invasive surgery
Electrophysiology
Endovascular therapies

Stem cell therapies
Advanced cardiac imaging
Advanced heart failure therapies
Cardiovascular screenings
Cardiac rehabilitation
Education and training

Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center successfully performs the first fully robotic heart transplant in the U.S.

Surgeons at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center successfully performed a fully robotic heart transplant on an adult patient—the first reported in the United States.

Using a surgical robot, lead surgeon Dr. Kenneth Liao and his team made small, precise incisions, eliminating the need to open the chest and break the breast bone. Liao removed the diseased heart, and the new heart was implanted through preperitoneal space, avoiding chest incision.

“Opening the chest and spreading the breastbone can affect wound healing and delay rehabilitation and prolong the patient’s recovery, especially in heart transplant patients who take immunosuppressants,” said Liao, professor and chief of cardiothoracic transplantation and circulatory support at Baylor College of Medicine and chief of cardiothoracic transplantation and mechanical circulatory support at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center. “With the robotic approach, we preserve the integrity of the chest wall, which reduces the risk of infection and helps with early mobility, respiratory function and overall recovery.”

Texas Heart Institute completed first 2 artificial heart implantations

The Texas Heart Institute at Baylor College of Medicine successfully completed the first two bridge-to-heart transplants, highlighting the potential of this innovative technology to address critical challenges in cardiac care, such as long transplantation waitlists.

The Texas Heart Institute remains committed to advancing the field of cardiac medicine and improving outcomes for patients worldwide.