New technology changing heart surgery

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Heart surgeons in Austin have a new tool that's changing open heart surgery. It's called the 3D Transesophageal Echo.

This allows surgeons to have a comprehensive plan in place even before the first incision and leads to more accurately perform corrective cardiac procedures.

"This allows us to look at that valve in a dynamic active fashion while it's working in the heart, and so we get a much better idea of how we need to repair that," said Dr. William Kessler, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons.

The Heart Hospital of Austin has used the machine for the last seven weeks.

It works just like three-dimensional ultrasound for pregnant woman, allowing surgeons to see what's going on inside the heart before, during and after they operate. 

“When we complete the operation it lets us look at our repair of the valve or replacement and lets us see things in a much more delicate manner then we previously have,” said Kessler.

Surgeons have found the improved accuracy provided by the live 3D Echo significantly lowers a patients chances of being readmitted later for further repairs.

The Heart Hospital of Austin is the only hospital in the area to have this technology.