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Heart to Heart Mission

For more than 20 years, the IPA has performed life-saving heart surgery on over 400 patients in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

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Honduras Mission

The IPA is working with Duke to expand their heart surgery mission program in Honduras. We have a mission trip planned for mid-May. Stay tuned for more information.

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Your Mission Trip

The IPA will gladly make donations to qualified charitable organizations who perform cardiac surgery mission work for patients in need.

600+

Patients served

Help Mend a Heart!

Every member of our team is an unpaid volunteer, so please take comfort in knowing that 100% of all donated funds go directly to patient care. Your generosity is so very welcome and will help save lives!

— Latest News —

Predictors of Prolonged Intensive Care Unit Stay

Predictors of Prolonged Intensive Care Unit Stay and In-Hospital Mortality Following Cardiac Surgery: An Integrated Analysis from the PROCARD-ATI Study

This study analyzed 130 adult cardiac surgery patients to identify perioperative predictors of prolonged ICU stays and in-hospital mortality. Results revealed aortic cross-clamp time (AXCT) as the sole independent predictor of ICU stays ≥7 days, with a threshold of 110 minutes. For mortality, prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time (CPBT), emergency surgery, and higher AXCT were key predictors. The findings suggest practical intraoperative benchmarks to enhance surgical strategies and outcomes.

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Impact of Prolonged Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Impact of Prolonged Cardiopulmonary Bypass on Gastrointestinal Complications in Cardiac Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study

This retrospective cohort study assessed the effect of prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB ≥ 120 minutes) on gastrointestinal complications (GICs) after cardiac surgery. Analyzing 1,444 patients and using propensity score matching, the study found a significantly higher rate of GICs in the prolonged CPB group. Key risk factors included hypertension, lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and undergoing aortic surgery.

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Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

The Past, Present, and Future of Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

This review traces the evolution and prospects of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB). Despite early skepticism due to technical difficulty, OPCAB offers major advantages for high-risk patients, including reduced stroke risk and faster recovery. Modern trials and meta-analyses show comparable or superior outcomes to on-pump CABG when performed by experienced surgeons. Emphasis is placed on arterial grafting, no-touch techniques, and hybrid strategies for future optimization.

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