University Heart Surgeons

1940 Alcoa Highway,
Suite E-180
Knoxville, TN 37920

Phone: 305.6955
Fax: 305.8238

University Heart Surgeons offers the only pediatric heart surgery program in the Knoxville area. It also performs the vast majority of trauma-related surgery for victims of major chest, heart and aortic injury. University Heart Surgeons recently was selected by Solucient Top 100 as the outstanding cardiac surgical group in the East Tennessee region.

University Heart Surgeons provides surgical services for a wide range of heart, lung, esophageal and thoracic disorders in adults, children and infants. Surgical treatment of adult heart disease includes coronary artery bypass, heart valve repair or replacement, cardiac tumors and a host of complex problems such as repair of torn and aneurismal aorta in the chest. Newer technologies such as off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, transmyocardial laser revascularization, mitral valve repair and mechanical ventricular assist support are offered.

This is the only group in the Knoxville area to perform surgical repair of congenital heart defects in infants. University Heart Surgeons works closely with the UT Cancer Center performing surgical procedures for lung and other intrathoracic tumors.

UT Medical Center is the only area hospital to have artificial heart assist as a life-saving measure for those who have a heart too weak to sustain life either from a heart attack or following open-heart surgery. Transmyocardial revascularization (TMR) is available for selected patients with disabling angina who are no longer candidates for angioplasty or coronary artery bypass. Selected patients have the option of coronary artery bypass off the heat-lung machine.

• Conditions and Treatment
• Thoracic Surgery (Lung Surgery)
• University Heart Surgeons Physicians

Conditions and Treatment

University Heart Surgeons welcomes physician and self-referral for surgical treatment of the following conditions.

• Coronary artery bypass; off heart-lung machine for selected cases
• Heart valve repair and replacement
• Aneurysms of the heart and aorta
• Tumors of the heart
• Major injury of the heart and aorta
• Pacemakers
• Transmyocardial revascularization (TMR)

Pediatric Heart Surgery conditions include the following.

• Coarctation of the aorta
• Cyanotic heart disease (blue baby)
  • Tetralogy of Fallot
  • Shunt procedures
• Septal defects
  • Atrial septal defects (ASD)
  • Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
• Patient ductus arteriosus (PDA)
• Valve defects (narrowed or leaking valves)
• Other unusual congenital heart problems by appointment

Call University Heart Surgeons at 865.305.6955.

Thoracic Surgery (Lung Surgery)

In addition to being cardiac surgeons, the doctors at University Heart Surgeons perform diagnostic and surgical procedures of the chest. They have a wide experience in dealing with disease and injuries of the ribs and chest wall; lungs; diaphragmatic hernias; and any cancer involving the chest, lungs and esophagus.

Patients who have undiagnosed lung abnormalities on chest X-ray have the benefit of complete diagnostic studies including CT scans, PET scans and appropriate biopsies before extensive surgery. Such cases are presented to a board of experts composed of pulmonologists, chest surgeons, oncologists, radiologists and pathologists during the course of their illness. Patients also have access to medical research and clinical trails involving the latest technology and treatment for difficult diseases.

Selected patients also have the option of minimally invasive surgical procedures done through small incision using endoscopic technique, including with some major lung operations.

University Heart Surgeons welcome physician consultation and referral as well as self-referral for the following conditions.

• Undiagnosed chest X-ray abnormality
• Cancer of the lung, esophagus, mediastinum and chest wall
• Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
• Complications of pneumonia such as lung abscess and empyema
• Lung biopsies for diagnosis
• Diagnostic bronchoscopy, mediastinoscopy and thoracoscopy
• Lung volume reduction surgery for emphysema
• Hiatal and diaphragmatic hernia
• Esophageal stricture and acalasia
• Chest wall tumors and deformity
• Complications of chest trauma
• Minimally invasive (endoscopic) lung and chest operations
• Phrenic and vagus nerve pacemakers
• Other unusual chest procedures by appointment

University Heart Surgeons Physicians

University Heart Surgeons is a group of five board certified cardiothoracic surgeons with a combined 90 years of surgical experience. Three of the surgeons are on the full time faculty of the UT Graduate School of Medicine and work primarily at UT Medical Center. The University Heart Surgeons are a highly qualified group who all are diplomats of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and fellows of the American College of Surgery. University Heart Surgeons also employs four certified physician assistants in surgery and with patient care.

• Raymond A. Dieter III, MD
• Jeffrey E. Everett, MD
• Thomas E. Gaines, MD
• John W. Mack, Jr., MD  

Contact University Heart Surgeons by calling 865.305.6955.