Cardiac Hospital

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Our clinical departments and specialized units

Cardiothoracic Surgery

CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY
Active department Last updated: Mar 10, 2026

Leading regional center for adult and pediatric cardiac, thoracic and vascular surgery with high surgical volumes and accredited training programs.

Overview

About the Department
The Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery at the Surgical Specialty Hospital is the leading center for advanced cardiovascular surgery in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. The department performed the first-ever cardiac surgery in the Kurdistan Region in December 2007 and has since become one of the most respected cardiac centers in the region.

Scope of Services
We provide a comprehensive spectrum of surgical procedures for patients of all ages, from neonates to the elderly, across elective, urgent and emergency settings.

Adult Cardiac Surgery

  • Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)
  • Valve repair and replacement
  • Surgery for infective endocarditis
  • Cardiac tumor excision
  • Aortic surgery
  • Device and instrument implantation

Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

  • Atrial septal defect (ASD)
  • Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
  • Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF)
  • Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
  • Blalock–Taussig (BT) shunt
  • Pulmonary artery banding (PA-banding)

Thoracic and Vascular Surgery

  • Surgery on lung, mediastinum and chest wall
  • Peripheral and central vascular procedures

Our Team & Surgical Volume
The department includes a team of 16 highly qualified surgeons with international experience, committed to patient-centered, evidence-based surgical care. Each year, the department performs more than 1,400 adult cardiac surgeries and over 200 pediatric cardiac surgeries.

Education, Training & Heart Team
The department is an accredited training center for:

  • Kurdistan Board for Medical Specialties
  • Iraqi Board of Medical Specializations
  • Arab Board of Health Specializations

Academic activities include surgical residency and fellowship training, undergraduate teaching, scientific seminars, case discussions and academic rounds in collaboration with universities and health institutions.

A weekly multidisciplinary Heart Team Committee, bringing together cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, intensivists, anesthesiologists and radiologists, reviews complex and high-risk cases to agree on individualized treatment plans.

Department details are shown here.