The Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit at Barwon Health is the major tertiary provider of adult cardiac surgery and major thoracic oncologic surgery in the Geelong and south-west Victoria. Established in 1997, the Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit reached a milestone of 10,000 cardiac operations in 2023. It is one of six tertiary hospital cardiothoracic units in Victoria, and the only regional unit of its kind in the state. The current surgical workload averages 450-500 per annum. The unit provides a range cardiac and thoracic procedures, with the exception of transplant and paediatric surgery.

Research in the Department is led by A/Prof Chen Hon Yap, Dr Michael Seitz and Dr Michael Byrom.

Research Areas

  • The unit is a founding member of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) cardiac surgery database project, funded by the Victorian Government, which undertakes continuous performance monitoring in cardiac surgery. University Hospital Geelong has consistently produced excellent outcomes for the patients treated in the unit. The ANZSCTS database project annual reports are readily available from their website.
  • Performance in thoracic surgery is recorded in the Victorian Lung Cancer Registry and more recently the Australian and New Zealand Thoracic clinical quality registry (ANZTHOR). Principal investigators are Mr Michael Rowland at University Hospital Geelong, and A/Prof Cheng Hon Yap at St John of God Geelong Hospital.
  • The unit is also currently participating in a number of research activities and clinical trials. These include:
    • The STABLE-MATES Trial, University Hospital Geelong Principal Investigator: A/Prof Cheng Hon Yap. A Randomized Phase III Study of Sublobar Resection (SR) versus Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SAbR) in High Risk Patients with Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).
    • TEG – Principal Investigator Dr Michael Seitz. This observational study analyses platelet function utilising thromboelastography (TEG) in patients who have received a P2Y12 inhibitor during presentation for acute coronary syndrome and have been referred for coronary artery bypass surgery.
    • EVH – Principal Investigator Dr Michael Seitz. This observational study investigates clinical outcomes when comparing endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) versus open harvesting techniques.
    • Para sternal blocks post sternotomy – Principal Investigator Dr Michael Seitz. A clinical trial is in development.
    • Sutured vs sutureless valves on pacemaker implantation. Principal Investigator Dr Michael Seitz
    • Printed 3D model of bronchovascular anatomy – Principal Investigator Dr Michael Byrom. This novel project has led to a 3D-printed model of the intricate lung anatomy relevant to surgical lung resection, for the purposes of education and clinical discussion, and will be presented at the 2024 ANSCTS conference.
    • 3D anatomical model for surgical planning – Principal Investigator A/Prof Cheng Hon Yap. This related project utilises software to generate a visual 3D computer model of lung anatomy to assit surgical planning of sublobar resection.
    • PORTHOS – randomised controlled trial of noradrenaline versus angiotensin for vasopressor post cardiac surgery. Associate Investigator Dr Michael Seitz.
    • TRICS IV – randomised controlled trial of restrictive versus liberal red cell transfusion threshold post cardiac surgery. Associate Investigator Dr Michael Byrom.
    • NOTACS – Nasal Oxygen Therapy After Cardiac Surgery

Collaborating Organisations

Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS)
Australian and New Zealand Thoracic clinical quality registry (ANZTHOR)
 St John of God Hospital

Multifocal primary intrapulmonary thymoma successfully resected via robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Shell D, Malone J, Kho J, Yap CH.BMJ Case Rep. 2023 Nov 24;16(11):e257789. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2023-257789.

Measuring the quality of cancer care in the Barwon South Western region, Victoria, Australia. Matheson LM, Pitson G, Yap CH, Singh M, Collins I, Campbell P, Patrick A, Rogers MJ.   Int J Qual Health Care. 2021 Feb 20;33(1):mzaa145. doi: 10.1093/intqhc/mzaa145.
Transesophageal Echocardiographic Diagnosis of Cardiac Rupture During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation-Assisted Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. Waldman B, Cartwright B, Keech A, Byrom M, D’Silva D, Weaver J.J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2021 Mar;35(3):910-913. doi: 10.1053/j.jvca.2020.06.041. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Using individualized three-dimensional printed airway models to guide airway stent implantation. Xu J, Sullivan C, Ong HX, Williamson JP, Traini D, Hersch N, Byrom M, Young PM.Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2020 Dec 7;31(6):900-903. doi: 10.1093/icvts/ivaa206.

Paclitaxel-eluting silicone airway stent for preventing granulation tissue growth and lung cancer relapse in central airway pathologies. Xu J, Ong HX, Traini D, Williamson J, Byrom M, Gomes Dos Reis L, Young PM.Expert Opin Drug Deliv. 2020 Nov;17(11):1631-1645. doi: 10.1080/17425247.2020.1811224. Epub 2020 Aug 31.

Use of clinical quality indicators to improve lung cancer care in a regional/rural network of health services. Kim ML, Matheson L, Garrard B, Francis M, Broad A, Malone J, Eastman P, Rogers M, Yap CH.Aust J Rural Health. 2019 Apr;27(2):183-187. doi: 10.1111/ajr.12493. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement Via Right Anterior Mini-Thoracotomy: Propensity Matched Initial Experience. Seitz M, Goldblatt J, Paul E, Marcus T, Larobina M, Yap CH.Heart Lung Circ. 2019 Feb;28(2):320-326. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2017.11.012. Epub 2017 Dec 7.

The utility of 3D-printed airway stents to improve treatment strategies for central airway obstructions. Xu J, Ong HX, Traini D, Byrom M, Williamson J, Young PM.Drug Dev Ind Pharm. 2019 Jan;45(1):1-10. doi: 10.1080/03639045.2018.1522325. Epub 2018 Sep 25.

Prospective, randomized, controlled trial of polymer cable ties versus standard wire closure of midline sternotomy. Marasco SF, Fuller L, Zimmet A, McGiffin D, Seitz M, Ch’ng S, Gangahanumaiah S, Bailey M.J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2018 Oct;156(4):1589-1595.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2018.04.025. Epub 2018 Apr 16.

Deep sequencing of primary human lung epithelial cells challenged with H5N1 influenza virus reveals a proviral role for CEACAM1. Ye S, Cowled CJ, Yap CH, Stambas J.Sci Rep. 2018 Oct 19;8(1):15468. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-33605-6.

The Real-World Cost-Effectiveness of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery Versus Stenting in High-Risk Patients: Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of a Single-Centre Experience. Ariyaratne TV, Ademi Z, Huq M, Rosenfeldt F, Duffy SJ, Parkinson B, Yap CH, Smith J, Billah B, Yan BP, Brennan AL, Tran L, Reid CM.Appl Health Econ Health Policy. 2018 Oct;16(5):661-674. doi: 10.1007/s40258-018-0407-5.

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