When Fred Alvarez learned he needed lifesaving heart surgery last year, he turned to Dr. Peterson and the Heart & Vascular Center of Northern Arizona. Thanks to their focus on minimally invasive procedures, Alvarez was back to his favorite pastime of restoring vintage cars sooner than he expected.

In 2008, Alvarez, now 64, learned he needed heart surgery after struggling with heart problems for several years. He had previously had coronary stents inserted to increase blood flow to and from his heart in 2000, and again in 2006. After heart problems resurfaced once more in early 2008, Alvarez found himself faced with heart surgery.

“When the heart problems came back last year, it was emotionally tough because

I thought I had beaten the problem,” Alvarez said. “Some friends recommended I see Dr. Steven Peterson with the Heart & Vascular Center of Northern Arizona and Flagstaff Medical Center. Dr. Peterson was able to perform single bypass surgery without opening my chest. I’ve been blown away by the great results.”

A State-of-the-Art Procedure

The Heart & Vascular Center of Northern Arizona offers traditional open heart and  inimally invasive surgical procedures. Dr. Peterson uses cutting-edge technology such as the da Vinci® Surgical System, which allows complex surgeries to be less invasive because the surgery is performed through tiny incisions, rather than large, open incisions.

“One of my goals is to get my patients back to normal life as quickly as possible,” said Steven Peterson, M.D., F.A.C.S., cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon at FMC. “When I use minimally invasive technology to perform surgical procedures, I can minimize the stress and trauma for my patients, and they enjoy quicker recovery times.”

For patients, the primary differences between minimally invasive cardiac surgery and traditional surgery are a faster recovery and less pain after surgery. Instead of having a 10-to 12-inch sternum-splitting incision, surgery is performed through small incisions between the ribs. For Alvarez, this meant he was able to get back to the things he enjoys in just a few weeks.

“It was absolutely incredible! I was up and walking around the hospital the very next day,” Alvarez said. “By the weekend, I was at home, and just two weeks after the

surgery, it was as if I was a brand-new man.”

To learn more about the Heart & Vascular Center of Northern Arizona, visit NAHeartcare.com. To make an appointment with one of our physicians, call 877 928-WELL.