Yuji Kawano, MD| Cardiac Surgery | MedStar Health

Yuji Kawano, MD
Provider is directly employed by MedStar Health

4.8 out of 5 (73 reviews)

Specialties: Cardiac Surgery

Languages: Japanese, English

202-877-3503

About me

Yuji Kawano, MD, is a cardiac surgeon at MedStar Washington Hospital Center with a unique specialization in minimally invasive and robotic heart surgery.

Dr. Kawano comes to MedStar Health from his advanced fellowship program at Emory University, where he received the full spectrum of training in robotic cardiac surgery under some of the first, and most experienced, robotic cardiac surgeons, worldwide.

A highly specialized approach, robotic heart surgery can provide patients with enhanced recovery, shorter hospital stays, and fewer complications compared to conventional methods. Robotics may be applied to treat mitral and tricuspid valve conditions, atrial fibrillation, and cardiac tumors, for low-risk surgical patients as well as high-risk patients with complex comorbidities.

Philosophy of Care

“Robotic surgery is an excellent option for a patient seeking better cosmesis, quicker recovery, and less post-surgical pain, without compromising the clinical result of surgery itself. I work closely with my colleagues to fully evaluate the benefits and potential risks for each case. My patients can always count on me to be honest with them –– to explain their situation and to help them understand their treatment options. My first priority is always the patient’s safety.”

Fellowships

  • Advanced Robotic Cardiac Surgery, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Advanced Adult Cardiac Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery, Tokyo Bay Urayasu Ichikawa Medical Center, Chiba, Japan

Residencies

  • Cardiovascular Surgery, Ichinomiya Nishi Hospital, Aichi, Japan
  • General Surgery, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

Medical school:

  • Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan

Clinical areas of focus

  • Aneurysm Of Ascending Aorta
  • Aortic Aneurysm
  • Aortic Arch Aneurysm
  • Aortic Valve Surgery
  • Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
  • Mitral Valve Replacement
  • Reoperative Cardiac Surgery
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Conditions and procedures

Conditions I treat

  • Aneurysm Of Ascending Aorta
  • Aortic Aneurysm
  • Aortic Arch Aneurysm
  • Aortic Stenosis
  • Aortic Ulcer
  • Aortic Valve Sclerosis
  • Chest Wall Disorder
  • Collapsed Lung
  • Contusion Of Chest Wall
  • Double Aortic Arch
  • Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis
  • Infiltrative Disorders Of The Heart
  • Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
  • Loeys Dietz Syndrome
  • Lung Contusion
  • Malignant Effusion
  • Marfan Syndrome
  • Maternal Valvular Disease
  • Mediastinitis
  • Mitral Regurgitation
  • Mitral Valve Prolapse
  • Mitral Valve Stenosis
  • Myocardial Bridge
  • Pectus Carinatum
  • Pectus Excavatum
  • Pericardial Effusion
  • Pleural Effusion
  • Pneumothorax
  • Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis
  • Rib Fracture
  • Rupture Of Papillary Muscle
  • Sternal Fracture
  • Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
  • Tracheoesophageal Fistula
  • Tricuspid Stenosis
  • Tricuspid Valve Disease
  • Valvular Endocarditis
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Procedures I perform

  • Abdominal Aneurysm Repair
  • Aortic Root Replacement
  • Aortic Valve Replacement
  • Aortic Valve Surgery
  • Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) Repair
  • Balloon Catheter
  • Bloodless Cardiac Surgery
  • Convergent Procedure
  • Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
  • Correction Of Pectus Deformity
  • Cryoablation
  • Embolectomy
  • Endoscopic Surgery
  • Epicardial Lead Placement
  • Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
  • Heart Transplant
  • Intra Aortic Balloon Pump
  • Left Atrial Appendage Closure
  • Median Sternotomy
  • Mediastinoscopy
  • Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement
  • Minimally Invasive Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) Closure
  • Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Coronary Bypass Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair
  • Mitral Valve Repair
  • Mitral Valve Replacement
  • Off Pump Coronary Artery Bypass
  • Paravalvular Leak Repair
  • Patent Foramen Ovale Closure
  • Pericardiocentesis
  • Pericardiotomy
  • Pleurodesis
  • Pleurx Catheter Insertion
  • Prosthetic Heart Valves
  • Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy
  • Pulmonic Valve Replacement
  • Reoperative Cardiac Surgery
  • Repair Of Diaphragm
  • Replacement Of Heart Valve
  • Robotic Thoracic Surgery
  • Septal Myectomy
  • Surgical Ablation Of Atrial Fibrillation
  • Thoracic Aneurysm Repair
  • Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
  • Thrombectomy
  • Total Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
  • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
  • Tricuspid Valve Repair
  • Tube Pericardiostomy
  • Valvuloplasty
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Practice locations

Distance from Change LocationEnter your Location

110 Irving Street Northwest
MHVI-1st Floor North Addition
Washington, DC, 20010

202-877-7464

Fax 202-877-2799

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 202-877-2799

Insurance

MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.

  • List of insurance plans we accept
    • Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
    • Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
    • Innovation Health: Open POS II
    • Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
    • Aetna Choice POS & Choice POS II
    • Innovation Health: POS Plus
    • Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
    • Innovation Health: POS
    • Aetna Open HMO/Open HMO Option/Open EPO Plus
    • Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA
    • Aetna HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
    • Innovation Health: HMO & EPO Plus
    • Aetna Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
    • Aetna HMO
    • Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
    • Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
    • Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
    • Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
    • Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
    • Cigna Preferred Medicare
    • Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO) |
    • Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
    • Veterans Affairs Community Care Network (VA CCN)
    • United Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
    • United Student Resources
    • United Select Plus (POS)
    • United Select HMO - EPO/NPP
    • United Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO)
    • United Golden Rule
    • United GEHA (for all other states) Compass Rose
    • D-SNP)
    • I-SNP
    • United Nursing Home Plan (C-SNP
    • United Erickson Advantage Plans
    • United Choice Plus
    • United Choice
    • United Mamsi Life & Health
    • United Core Essential (HMO)
    • MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
    • MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
    • United MD IPA Preferred (POS)
    • United MD IPA (HMO)
    • Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
    • Kaiser Signature
    • Kaiser HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
    • Kaiser Select-Added Choice
    • Kaiser Select
    • Kaiser Medicare Plus
    • Kaiser Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
    • Kaiser Flexible Choice
    • Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
    • HumanaChoice PPO
    • HumanaChoice Honor’s plan PPO
    • Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN)
    • Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
    • Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
    • Cigna POS/Network POS
    • Cigna Indemnity
    • Cigna POS Open Access & Open Access Plus
    • Cigna Network Open Access
    • Cigna HMO Open Access
    • Cigna PPO and PPO Plus
    • Cigna EPO
    • Cigna Choice Fund PPO
    • Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
    • AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
    • AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
    • Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
    • Amerigroup DC Alliance
    • Innovation Health: Indemnity
    • Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
    • Aetna Student Health Insurance
    • Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
    • Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
    • Innovation Health: PPO
    • Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
    • Cigna HMO & Network (HMO)
    • WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
    • WellPoint Maryland
    • Virginia Premier
    • Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
    • UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
    • United Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
    • Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP)
    • Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
    • Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
    • Police and Fire Clinic
    • United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
    • United Optimum Choice
    • United Navigate
    • United Group Medicare Advantage Plans
    • United AARP Medicare Complete
    • Traditional Medicare Fee for Service
    • Medicaid - Virginia
    • Medicaid - Maryland
    • Medicaid - District of Columbia
    • Tricare for Life East
    • Tricare Reserve Select
    • Tricare East Select
    • Tricare East Prime
    • Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
    • HealthyBlue PPO
    • Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
    • CareFirst NASCO
    • CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
    • CareFirst MedStar PPO
    • CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
    • CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
    • CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
    • CareFirst BC/BS Advantage Core/Enhanced
    • CareFirst Blue Card Program (Out-of-area BCBS plans)
    • CareFirst Administrators
    • CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
    • Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
    • Carefirst Healthy Blue (HMO/POS)
    • Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Open Access
    • Carefirst BlueChoice Open Access
    • Carefirst BlueChoice HMO
    • Carefirst EPO
    • Carefirst Blue Preferred PPO
    • Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
    • Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
    • First Health PPO
    • MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
    • Coventry Health Care of Virginia
    • Coventry Health Care National Network PPO

Education

Fellowship Program: Emory University Hospital (2021)

Fellowship Program: Brigham and Womens Hospital (2020)

Fellowship Program: Tokyo Bay Urayasu Ichikawa Medical Center (2018)

Residency Program: Ichinomiya Nishi Hospital (2013)

Residency Program: Japanese Red Cross Musashino Hospital (2012)

Medical School: Osaka University (2010)

News and publications

Peer Reviewed Publications


  • Kawano Y, Harloff M, Sameer H, Kaneko T. Early Outcomes of Trans-Atrial Mitral Valve Replacement in Severe Mitral Annular Calcification. JTCVS 2021 (In press)

  • Kawano Y, Kanaoka Y, Hiraiwa N, Nakatsuka D, Tabata M. Emergency thoracic endovascular aortic repair with celiac artery coverage in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Journal of Vascular Surgery Cases and Innovative Techniques. 2017 June;3:57-9

  • Kawano Y, Tabata M, Nakatsuka D, Hiraiwa N. A novel approach for emergency repair of intraoperative type A aortic dissection through a left thoracotomy. Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2016 Aug;102(2):e147-9.

  • Kawano,Y,  Tabata M. Postoperative management manual for cardiac surgery. Critical care management, 2019. (Japanese)

  • Kawano Y, Tabata M. Surgery for left atrial appendage. Structural heart disease intervention complete guide 2019 May Chapter 3-3. (Japanese)

  • Kawano Y, Tabata M. Surgical devices for minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS). Kyobu Geka  2018 Sep;71(10):788-793. (Japanese)
  • Kawano Y , Tabata M. Pitfalls and tips of management about postoperative temporary pacemaker.  Intensivist, 2016 Vol.8 Chapter 3: 33-40. (Japanese)

  • Kawano Y, Yasui Y, Tsuchiya K, Muraoka Y, Tanaka K, Suzuki Y, et al. A case report of systemic amyloidosis diagnosed by liver biopsy. Journal of Japanese Society of Gastroenterology 2013;6:1030-7

  • Hibino M, Katada Y, Shibayama K, Obunai K, Watanabe H, Kawano Y, et al. Recurrent aortic root pseudoaneurysm after transcatheter occlusion-A word of caution. J Card Surg. 2018 Apr;33(4):190-193

  • Nishi T, Shibayama K, Tabata M, Kato N, Noguchi M, Kawano Y, et al.  Accuracy and usefulness of aortic annular measurement using real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography: Comparison with direct surgical sizing. J Cariol. 2018 Mar;71(3):230-236.

  • Nishida H, Nakatsuka D, Kawano Y, Hiraiwa N, Takanashi S, Tabata M. Outcomes of totally endoscopic atrial septal defect closure using a glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardial patch. Circ J. 2017 Apr 25;81(5):689-693.

  • Noguchi M, Nakai T, Kawano Y, Shibayama K, Obunai K, Tabata M, et al. Delayed right ventricular defibrillation lead perforation presenting as cardiac tamponade and treated surgically.Clin Case Rep. 2017 Mar 2;5(4):458-462.

  • Noguchi M, Tabata M, Ito J, Nakatsuka D, Kawano Y, Shibayama K, et al. Successfully treated nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia after transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Ann Thorac Surg. 2017 Feb;103(2):e171-e173.

  • Katada Y, Ito J, Shibayama K, Nakatsuka D, Kawano Y, Watanabe H, et al. Transapical transcatheter closure of the pseudoaneurysm in the left ventricular outflow tract after aortic valve replacement. JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2016 Sep 26;9(18):e181-3.

  • Tabata M, Hiraiwa N, Kawano Y, Nakatsuka D, Hoshino S. A Simple, Effective, and Inexpensive Technique for Exposure of Papillary Muscles in Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair: Wakka Technique. Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2015;100:e59-61.

  • Tabata M, Nakatsuka D, Nishida H, Takanashi S, Hiraiwa N, Kawano Y. A Simple Nonresectional Technique for Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation With a Very Large Posterior Leaflet: Chordal Foldoplasty. Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2016;101:e179-81



Presentations/Abstracts


  • Kawano Y, Harloff M, Sameer H, Kaneko T. Outcomes of open trans-atrial TMVR in patients with severe mitral annular calcification. JATS 2020.

  • Kawano Y, Morimura H, Nakanaga H, Watanabe S, Hiraiwa N, Tabata M.  A case of transfemoral TAVI with multiple complications including annulus rupture. Complex Cardiovascular Therapeutics 2017.

  • Kawano Y, Watanabe S, Nakanaga H, Morimura H, Shigetomi K, Hiraiwa N, Tabata M. Outcomes of TAVR with proactive alternative access use. The 70th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery 2017.

  • Kawano Y, Tabata M, Nakatsuka D, Hibino M, Watanabe S, Shibayama K, et al. Effective evaluation of systolic anterior movement using intraoperative transesophageal echocardiogram  after Morrow operation for HOCM. The 6th Local Meeting for Comprehensive Understanding of Cardiac Diseases 2016.

  • Kawano Y, Tabata M, Nakatsuka D, Hibino M, Shibayama K, Watanabe H, et al. A case of mitral torn chordae after transapical aortic valve replacement. The 7th Annual Meeting of Japan Transcatheter Valve Therapies 2016.

  • Kawano Y, Tabata M, Nakatsuka D, Hiraiwa N. Emergent thoracic endovascular aortic repair with iliac-to-hepatic artery bypass and celiac artery coverage in a patient with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. The 44th Annual Meeting of Japanese Society for Vascular Surgery 2016.

  • Kawano Y, Tabata M, Nakatsuka D, Ito J. Career planning for young cardiovascular surgeons. The 46th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Cardiovascular Surgery 2016.

  • Kawano Y, Tabata M, Nakatsuka D, Hiraiwa N. Focused strategy for early discharge after minimally invasive valve surgery. The 9th Meeting of Japan Association for Development of Community Medicine 2015.

  • Kawano Y, Tabata M, Nakatsuka D, Hiraiwa N. Hybrid clamping technique for highly calcified abdominal aortic aneurysm. Kanto-Koshinetsu Local Meeting of The Japanese Circulation Society 2014.

  • Kawano Y, Tabata M, Nakatsuka D, Hiraiwa N. Important role of nurse practitioner in a heart team. Complex Cardiovascular Therapeutics 2014.

  • Kawano Y, Tabata M, Nakatsuka D, Hiraiwa N. Early surgical intervention improved femoral nerve dysfunction after minimally invasive valve surgery. Kanto-Koshinetsu Local Meeting of The Japanese Circulation Society 2014.

  • Kawano Y, Hiramoto A, Hoshino R, Kaneko K, Koyanagi T. A case of giant left ventricular aneurysm after myocardial infarction. The 98th Tokai Local Meeting of Cardiovascular Surgery 2013.

  • Kawano Y, Hiramoto A, Hoshino R, Koyanagi T. A case of effusive constrictive pericarditis improved after pericardial fenestration. The 141st Tokai Local Meeting of The Japanese Circulation Society 2013.

  • Kawano Y, Hiramoto A, Hoshino R, Koyanagi T. Successful Dor procedure for ischemic cardiomyopathy as a bridge therapy to heart transplantation: case report. The 140th Tokai Local Meeting of The Japanese Circulation Society 2012.


Ratings and reviews

  • Explanations the care provider gave you about your problem or condition

    4.8
  • Extent to which the care provider listened to you

    4.9
  • Care provider’s discussion of any proposed treatment (options, risks, benefits, etc.)

    4.8
  • Care provider’s efforts to include you in decisions about your care

    4.8
  • Concern the care provider showed for your questions or worries

    4.8
  • Likelihood of recommending this care provider to others

    4.8
  • Jan 17, 2024

    Dr. Kawano explained the procedure in great detail, answered all my questions. This was my first time meeting Dr. Kawano and I have the utmost respect for and confidence in him.

  • Jan 2, 2024

    Dr. Kawano was attentive & unhurried. He carefully explained treatment options & risks.

  • Oct 28, 2023

    I was not shown proof of the exploratory procedure. Only told was discolored. Surgery was recommended. MD scheduled soon after.