The Methodist Hospital System
The Methodist Hospital System. Leading Medicine

Methodist Cardiovascular Surgery Associates

Dr. Saverio LaFrancesca M.D.

Dr. Saverio LaFrancesca

Practice Location

6550 Fannin Street
Smith Tower Suite 1401
Houston, TX 77030
713-441-5200

 

Education - Saverio LaFrancesca M.D.

Medical School

  • University of Roma Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Rome, Italy

Residency

  • University of Rome Cardiovascular Surgery Residency, Rome, Italy

Fellowships

  • Texas Heart Institute Heart Transplantation and Circulatory Support Fellowship, Houston, TX
  • Texas Heart Institute Cardiovascular Surgery Fellowship, Houston, TX
  • McGill University Montreal Lung Transplant Fellowship, Quebec, Canada
  • Texas Heart Institute Cardiovascular Surgery Fellowship, Houston, TX
  • Baylor College of Medicine Houston Aortic Surgery Fellowship, Houston, TX

Areas of Excellence

Thoracic Surgery and Vascular Surgery in the areas of:

  • Aortic Aneurysms
  • Cardiovascular Surgery
  • Heart Transplant
  • Lung Transplant
  • Stents
  • Valvular Heart Disease
  • Thoracic and Thoracoabdominal Aortic Surgery
  • Aortic Valve Sparing Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Coronary Surgery
  • Heart and Lung Transplantation
  • Mechanical Assist Devices
  • Gene Therapy for Heart and Lung Diseases
  • Medical Applications of Nanotechnology

Languages

Italian

Biography - Saverio LaFrancesca M.D.

Saverio LaFrancesca, M.D, received his graduate degree at the University of Rome in 1985. He trained at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston under the supervision of Dr. Denton Cooley from 1991 to 1994. He trained in Lung transplant in Montreal and he also trained in aortic surgery at the Baylor College of Medicine with Dr. Joseph Coselli. He became Associate Professor at the University of Rome in June 2000 where he was also the Chief of the Cardiovascular Circulatory support Service.

In 2008 he was appointed Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Texas in Houston and joined the Thoracic Transplant and Mechanical Support Service directed by Dr. OH Frazier at the Texas Heart Institute in July 2008.

In 2010 he became part of the DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center at the Methodist Hospital in Houston. He is currently involved in the surgical treatment of acute and chronic aortic disease, including valve sparing operations. He is also conducting researches in the field of heart and lung transplantation.
Dr. La Francesca's clinical expertise includes Aortic Aneurysms, Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart Transplant, Lung Transplant, Stents, Valvular Heart Disease, Thoracic and Thoracoabdominal Aortic Surgery, Aortic Valve Sparing Surgery, Minimally Invasive Coronary Surgery, Heart and Lung Transplantation, and Mechanical Assist Devices.

His research interest includes Gene Therapy for Heart and Lung Diseases and Medical Applications of Nanotechnology.

Publications - Saverio LaFrancesca M.D.

  1. Techniques and complications of TandemHeart ventricular assist device insertion during cardiac procedures. Gregoric ID, Bruckner BA, Jacob L, Loyalka P, Kar B, LaFrancesca S, Myers T, Frazier OH. ASAIO J. 2009 May-Jun;55(3):251-4. Review.
  2. Clinical experience with the TandemHeart percutaneous ventricular assist device as a bridge to cardiac transplantation. Bruckner BA, Jacob LP, Gregoric ID, Loyalka P, Kar B, Cohn WE, LaFrancesca S, Radovancevic B, Frazier OH. Tex Heart Inst J. 2008;35(4):447-50.
  3. CentriMag left ventricular assist system: cannulation through a right minithoracotomy. Gregoric ID, Cohn WE, Akay MH, LaFrancesca S, Myers T, Frazier OH. Tex Heart Inst J. 2008;35(2):184-5.
  4. The TandemHeart as a bridge to a long-term axial-flow left ventricular assist device (bridge to bridge). Gregoric ID, Jacob LP, LaFrancesca S, Bruckner BA, Cohn WE, Loyalka P, Kar B, Frazier OH. Tex Heart Inst J. 2008;35(2):125-9.
  5. Clinical experience with sternotomy versus subcostal approach for exchange of the HeartMate XVE to the HeartMate II ventricular assist device. Gregoric ID, Bruckner BA, Jacob L, Kar B, Cohn WE, LaFrancesca S, Frazier OH. Ann Thorac Surg. 2008 May;85(5):1646-9.
  6. A less invasive approach to axial flow pump insertion. Gregoric ID, LaFrancesca S, Myers T, Cohn W, Loyalka P, Kar B, Gemmato C, Frazier OH. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2008 Apr;27(4):423-6.
  7. Simultaneous insertion of a left ventricular assist system and repair of an ascending aortic dissection. Gregoric ID, Palanichamy N, LaFrancesca S, Smith RD, Myers TJ. Tex Heart Inst J. 2007;34(4):463-5.
  8. Successful resection of a primary left ventricular schwannoma. LaFrancesca S, Gregoric ID, Cohn WE, Frazier OH. Ann Thorac Surg. 2007 May;83(5):1881-2.
  9. First use of the TandemHeart percutaneous left ventricular assist device as a short-term bridge to cardiac transplantation. LaFrancesca S, Palanichamy N, Kar B, Gregoric ID. Tex Heart Inst J. 2006;33(4):490-1.
  10. Replacement of a malfunctioning HeartMate II left ventricular assist device in a 14-year-old after a sudden fall. LaFrancesca S, Smith R, Gregoric ID, Kar B, Myers TJ, Price J, Kennedy D, Frazier OH. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2006 Jul;25(7):862-4.PMID: 16818132