Cardiothoracic Surgery - Dignity Health Medical Group - San Bernardino, CA

Your care team at Dignity Health Medical Group-Inland Empire includes cardiothoracic surgeons and specially trained physician assistants (PAs). We focus on advanced cardiothoracic procedures to support your recovery and a return to everyday activities.

Our cardiothoracic surgeons evaluate and treat a wide range of heart, lung and chest conditions for patients in the Inland Empire. Conditions we treat include:

• Angina

• Aortic aneurysm

• Aortic embolism & thrombosis

• Aortic valve disease

• Aortic valve stenosis

• Arrhythmias

• Atherosclerosis

• Atrial fibrillation

• Cardiomyopathy

• Chest tumors (benign & malignant)

• Congenital heart disease

• Coronary artery disease

• Empyema

• Endocarditis (heart infection)

• Esophageal cancer

• Heart attack

• Heart valve disease

• Hyperhidrosis (abnormal sweating)

• Lung cancer

• Mesothelioma

• Mitral valve diseases

• Pericardial diseases

• Pulmonary diseases

• Septal defect

• Vascular diseases

Find a cardiothoracic surgeon

Our team offers a range of cardiothoracic procedures based on your condition and treatment plan, including:

• Abscess or fluid incision and drainage

• Aortic valve repair or replacement surgery

• Beating heart surgery

• Coronary artery bypass surgery

• Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair

• Heart defect repair

• Heart valve surgery

• Left ventricular lead placement/pacemaker

• Lobectomy, open for lung cancer, video assisted thoracoscopic

• Lung surgery, including lung resection and lobectomy

• Maze procedure

• Minimally invasive heart surgery

• Mitral valve repair and replacement surgery

• Pleurectomy and decortication

• Thoracentesis

• Thoracic surgery

• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)

• Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)

If you experience one or more of these symptoms, it's important to talk to a heart doctor (cardiologist):

• Chest pressure or discomfort: Feeling squeezing, tightness or pain in your chest

• Heartbeat changes: Noticeable fluttering, skipping or a fast, racing heart (palpitations)

• Shortness of breath: Difficulty catching your breath, especially during activity or at rest

• Swelling in the legs or feet: Fluid buildup that causes puffiness (edema)

• Unexplained fatigue: Feeling unusually tired or weak, even after rest

Important: If you think you or someone else is experiencing a medical emergency, such as a heart attack, call 911 immediately.

In cardiac arrest, the heart suddenly stops beating, causing blood to stop pumping to the body. Without rapid treatment within minutes, cardiac arrest can be fatal. This condition is also called sudden cardiac arrest.

In many cases, yes. Some insurance plans allow you to schedule directly with a cardiothoracic clinic, while others may require a referral from your primary care provider (PCP). If you’re unsure, please check with your health plan or call us at (909) 882-4605. Our team can help you understand the next steps.

Most health insurance plans cover cardiothoracic services when they are medically necessary. Coverage and costs may vary based on your plan and the specific services you need. To learn more, please call our team at (909) 882-4605. We can help check insurance coverage, explain benefits and answer questions before you begin treatment.

The Cardiothoracic Surgery Center at Dignity Health Medical Group-Inland Empire offers a multilingual phone line to assist all non-English-speaking patients. This language and interpretation service is free of charge and available year-round.