Austin, TX — Today, St. David’s HealthCare announced the acquisition of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons (CTVS) — a cardiothoracic and vascular physician group — and its plans to integrate CTVS clinic operations into the St. David’s HealthCare system. As part of the acquisition, CTVS will retain its name, and it will align its physicians and providers, as well as 45 employees, including technical and support staff, with St. David’s HealthCare effective Feb. 15.
“Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons has been a trusted and integral part of our healthcare system for years,” David Huffstutler, president and CEO of St. David’s HealthCare said. “By integrating our teams more closely, we are building upon a strong foundation to elevate care and drive innovation for the communities we serve. This acquisition marks an important next chapter in a decades-long relationship that has helped shape the standard of cardiovascular care in Central Texas.”
For 68 years, CTVS has provided Central Texas with the most specialized and innovative cardiothoracic and vascular surgical care available. During this time, CTVS has performed a number of “firsts” in the region, including:
- The first open-heart surgery in 1961
- The first coronary artery bypass graft surgery in 1968
- The first kidney transplant in 1972
- The first insertion of an intra-aortic balloon pump in 1976
- The first heart transplant in 1986
- The first video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in 1991
- The first off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery in 2000
- The first Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) repair using Endoluminal Aortic Stent Graft
- The first Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure in 2012
The group also founded the first pediatric cardiac surgery program for infants and children in Central Texas, and it is recognized as being the first in the world to perform the Ross Procedure on a newborn.
CTVS has been at the forefront of carotid artery interventions and treatment of complex pathology of the aorta for more than three decades. The physician group’s commitment to graduate medical education includes the establishment of the first vascular surgery fellowship in Austin.