Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery Explained

n today's episode, renowned cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Gan Dunnington, based in St. Helena, California, takes a deep dive into the world of cutting-edge heart surgery. 

Dr. Dunnington, a leading expert in minimally invasive heart surgery, performs complex cardiac interventions, such as ablation, valve repair, and transcatheter aortic valve replacement, improving patient outcomes with smaller incisions and reduced recovery times. He explains advanced procedures like the Hybrid Maze for atrial fibrillation, a game-changer in cardiac care. 

Drawing on his extensive experience from Stanford University and the University of Virginia, he explains when minimally invasive heart surgery is appropriate and when it is not. 

We discuss GLP-1s, AI, emotional and spiritual fitness, and his experience in medical device development, clinical trials, and working with the FDA. 

In May 2023, he was appointed to the adjunct role of Chief Medical Officer of Cardiac Surgery at Pulse Biosciences. He leads the advancement of the company’s nanosecond pulsed field ablation (nsPFA) technology, a cutting-edge technique, guiding its application in cardiac surgery to enhance the safety and efficacy of treatments for conditions like atrial fibrillation, leveraging his extensive surgical experience to drive innovation and clinical strategy. 

.css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}