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Home > OH Providers > Thoracic (Chest) Surgeons

Dr. Lars G. Svensson, MD, PhD

(2 Ratings)

Specializes in: Thoracic Surgery

Professional interests include: dilated cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, thoracic aortic disease, and more.

9500 Euclid Avenue Mail Code J4-1
Cleveland, OH 44195

(216) 445-4813

Dr. Lars G. Svensson, MD, PhD is a thoracic surgeon in Cleveland, OH specializing in thoracic surgery. Dr. Lars G. Svensson, MD, PhD is affiliated with Cleveland Clinic and Cleveland Clinic Main Campus.

Office Locations

Address:

9500 Euclid Avenue Mail Code J4-1
Cleveland, OH 44195

Some issues Dr. Lars G. Svensson, MD, PhD can help you with:

Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease. It happens when the blood vessels carrying blood to the heart, called coronary arteries, narrow and harden. This occurs when cholesterol, a type of fat found in the blood, builds up to form plaque, which sticks to the inner walls of the arteries. As plaque accumulates, less blood can flow through the arteries, which may lead to the following:

Angina, which is chest pain that occurs when the heart does not receive enough blood flow.
Heart attack, which happens if the arteries leading to the heart are completely blocked.
Arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, which can develop if the heart does not have enough blood supply.
Heart failure, which may occur if a heart attack damages the heart and it becomes too weak to pump enough blood to the rest of the body.

Certain factors may increase risk for the disease, like smoking, lack of exercise, being overweight, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. CAD tends to develop over decades, so it can go undetected until it has become quite severe. A diagnosis may be established using such tests as:

Electrocardiogram (ECG), which records the heart's electrical activity over a period of time. ECGs can detect whether there is enough blood flow to the heart or if a heart attack has occurred.
Echocardiogram (echo), which creates images of the heart using sound waves. Echos can show whether the heart is able to pump blood normally.
Stress tests, where an ECG or echo is combined with exercise, like riding a stationary bike or walking on a treadmill. This test is done to find out if the heart can function properly while performing a strenuous activity.

Treatments for the disease include medications such as vasodilators, like nitroglycerin, which dilates (widens) the coronary arteries. CAD may also be treated by a procedure called angioplasty with stent placement, where a balloon is inflated inside a diseased artery to flatten the plaque deposits against the artery walls, creating more room for blood to flow.

In some severe cases of the disease, multiple arteries may be blocked, and an open heart surgery called coronary artery bypass surgery may be necessary. This operation transplants a vessel from another part of the body to form a graft that goes past the narrowed arteries, thus enabling blood to flow around those arteries.

Heart Attack

A heart attack is a serious medical event that happens when the blood supplying oxygen to the heart is cut off, usually because of a blockage in an artery. This results in damage or death of part of the heart muscle. The heart can heal, but like any part of the body that was injured it leaves a scar. This scar tissue does not contract effectively, so the ability of the heart to pump is lowered after a heart attack.

A heart attack, sometimes called a myocardial infarction, can happen without warning. However there are certain factors that raise the risk of heart attack. Some of these are:

Age
Gender (most heart attack sufferers are male)
A family history of heart attacks
Smoking
Obesity
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Unhealthy lifestyle choices (lack of exercise, poor diet, too much alcohol or stress)

Heart attacks typically feel like pain or pressure in the chest that can radiate out to the back, arm, or jaw. Some other symptoms can include fatigue or weakness, shortness of breath, sweating, and nausea.

Treatment aims to increase blood flow to the heart muscle by opening up blocked blood vessels. Medications are sometimes used to dissolve clots in the arteries. Aspirin and other medications such as Plavix can thin the blood and make clots less likely to form. Dilators can widen blood vessels to make room for more blood to flow. Doctors can also use a procedure called catheterization to look at the blood vessels around the heart directly, place stents, or widen vessels using angioplasty. In extreme cases bypass surgery can be used to help blood flow better. After recovery, it is important to lead a healthy lifestyle and take any prescribed medications in order to protect the heart.

Heart Problems

The heart is one of the most important organs in the body. This smooth muscle expands and contracts rhythmically an entire lifetime, pumping blood to the lungs and then to every other cell in the body. When heart problems occur, it becomes difficult for the body to get the nutrients and oxygen it needs via the blood. So while there are a variety of illnesses and disorders that affect the heart, most of them cause weakness, exhaustion and shortness of breath. The most common heart conditions include heart disease, angina, arrhythmia, and valve disorders.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. This includes coronary artery disease, heart attacks, congestive heart failure, and congenital heart disease. Some conditions, such as genetics, cannot be controlled. But there are many other things one can do to lower their risk for heart disease. Controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing or stopping smoking, exercising more and losing weight if needed, and eating a diet low in sodium can all protect the heart.

Angina is a squeezing type of chest pain that happens when the muscles around the heart don't get enough oxygen. It can be regular or infrequent. Usually, angina is caused by coronary heart disease. However, not all chest pain is angina. Chest pain can also be caused by a lung infection or panic attack, for example, so it is important to have any sudden pain checked.

Arrhythmia is the word for when the heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly with skipped beats. It can feel frightening, and depending on the type it can be dangerous, but in most cases arrhythmia is not serious and can be treated. It is very common, especially in older adults.

Heart valve problems can happen in any one of the the heart's four valves that keep blood flowing where it needs to go. Babies can be born with problems in their heart valves, or valves can be damaged by infections. The valves can stiffen and become less mobile, or they can stop closing properly and 'leak' when the heart beats. Valve problems can usually be repaired surgically.

In The News (see more mentions in the news)

“"We are honored and grateful to be recognized as the nation's top hospital for heart care for the 30th consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report," said Lars Svensson, M.D., Ph.D., Enterprise...”—"Cleveland Clinic Ranked No. 1 Heart Hospital in U.S. for 30th Consecutive Year", Cleveland Clinic Newsroom , July 2024

“"We are honored and grateful to be recognized as the nation's top hospital for heart care for the 30th consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report," said Lars Svensson, M.D., Ph.D., chief of...”—"Cleveland Clinic Ranked No. 1 Heart Hospital in U.S.", Cleveland Clinic Newsroom , July 2024

“"Management of heart disease is complex, but we can advance the treatment of cardiovascular disease to benefit our communities by working together on programs like this," Lars Svensson, M.D.,...”—"Nuvance hospitals in CT and NY affiliate with nation's top heart clinic in Cleveland", Newstimes, July 2022

bypass surgery	25
cardiac procedures	402
doctor visit	159
minimally invasive procedures	92
open surgery	49
thoracic (chest) surgery procedures	93
vascular procedures	86

**Gender**
Male	188
Female	115

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	288
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	93
From 75 to 84	113
85 and over	86
Less than 65	11

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	12
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	21
Chronic Kidney Disease	45
Asthma	15
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	51
Heart Failure	75
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	34
Diabetes	34
Dementia	9
Cancer	15

bypass surgery	11
cardiac procedures	374
doctor visit	177
minimally invasive procedures	112
open surgery	21
thoracic (chest) surgery procedures	57
vascular procedures	93

**Gender**
Male	169
Female	99

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	250
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	94
From 75 to 84	91
85 and over	69
Less than 65	14

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	16
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	48
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	44
Heart Failure	75
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	35
Diabetes	41
Dementia	12
Cancer	14

cardiac procedures	124
doctor visit	121
minimally invasive procedures	8
open surgery	9
thoracic (chest) surgery procedures	5
vascular procedures	40

**Gender**
Male	216
Female	110

**Age**
From 65 to 74	156
From 75 to 84	120
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	13
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	19
Chronic Kidney Disease	29
Asthma	21
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	44
Heart Failure	63
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	24
Diabetes	24
Dementia	8
Cancer	15

cardiac procedures	86
doctor visit	95
open surgery	13
vascular procedures	33

**Gender**
Male	83
Female	28

**Age**
From 65 to 74	73
From 75 to 84	22
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	11
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	21
Chronic Kidney Disease	27
Asthma	24
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	52
Heart Failure	55
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	20
Diabetes	28
Dementia	0
Cancer	13

cardiac procedures	70
doctor visit	83

**Gender**
Male	73
Female	25

**Age**
From 65 to 74	56
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	74
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	28
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	44
Heart Failure	51
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	16
Diabetes	19
Dementia	0
Cancer	15

cardiac procedures	54
doctor visit	66
open surgery	7
vascular procedures	21

**Gender**
Male	55
Female	29

**Age**
From 65 to 74	55
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	74
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	14
Chronic Kidney Disease	38
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	40
Heart Failure	31
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	18
Diabetes	24
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

cardiac procedures	62
doctor visit	61
vascular procedures	13

**Gender**
Male	65
Female	19

**Age**
From 65 to 74	54
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	13
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	19
Chronic Kidney Disease	40
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	49
Heart Failure	39
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	18
Diabetes	19
Dementia	0
Cancer	13

cardiac procedures	48
doctor visit	58

**Gender**
Male	49
Female	19

**Age**
From 65 to 74	43
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	16
Chronic Kidney Disease	31
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	47
Heart Failure	44
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	26
Dementia	0
Cancer	19

bypass surgery	14
cardiac procedures	126
doctor visit	103
open surgery	27
thoracic (chest) surgery procedures	26

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Lars G. Svensson, MD, PhD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Lars G. Svensson, MD, PhD treated as a thoracic surgeon in Cleveland, OH were cardiac procedures, minimally invasive procedures, vascular procedures and thoracic (chest) surgery procedures.

bypass surgery	17
cardiac procedures	154
doctor visit	103
minimally invasive procedures	71
open surgery	23
thoracic (chest) surgery procedures	47
vascular procedures	48

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Lars G. Svensson, MD, PhD.

**Gender**
Male	89
Female	44

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	53
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	34
85 and over	15
Less than 65	2
65 to 74	62

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Lars G. Svensson, MD, PhD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Lars G. Svensson, MD, PhD treated were high cholesterol, hypertension, ischemic heart disease and heart failure.

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	59
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	60
Depression	15
Chronic Kidney Disease	28
Asthma	7
Osteoporosis	3
Heart Failure	43
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	18
Diabetes	21
Atrial Fibrillation	37
Cancer	10
Dementia	2

Education & Training

He completed residency at The Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. He is certified by the General Surgery Thoracic & Cardiac Surgery and has a state license in Ohio.

Residency: The Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (1986)

Board Certification: General Surgery Thoracic & Cardiac Surgery

Licensed In: Ohio

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Lars G. Svensson, MD, PhD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic Main Campus

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Lars G. Svensson, MD, PhD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 2 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Lars G. Svensson, MD, PhD from all over the web to help you find the right in Cleveland, OH.

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Lars G. Svensson, MD, PhD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation	$11,879 Transcatheter Heart Valves $7,777	Edwards SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve $1,389	Investigational Device $548	Pericardial Heart Valves $411	Edwards SAPIEN XT Transcatheter Heart Valve $165	Other $1,590
Cardiosolutions, Inc.	$6,845 $6,845
Medtronic, Inc.	$2,199 $2,199
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.	$970 Heart Valves $970
CryoLife, Inc.	$927 On-X $769	$158
Other	$2,136 Vascular $768	Direct Flow Medical Transcatheter Aortic Valve System $388	Jotec Products $201	Perceval $130	Aortic and Mitral Tissue Stented $94	Other $554

**Types of Payments**
Travel and Lodging	$12,282
Consulting Fee	$6,500
Food and Beverage	$3,975
Grant	$2,199

Research Payments

Dr. Lars G. Svensson, MD, PhD has received 56 research payments totaling $349,570.

Ownership and Interest Payments

This table describes ownership payments received by Dr. Lars G. Svensson, MD, PhD.

Cardiosolutions, Inc.	2013	$36,800.00	Physician Covered Recipient	stock, stock options
Cardiosolutions, Inc.	2021	$20,800.00	Physician Covered Recipient	Common Stock
Cardiosolutions, Inc.	2018	$20,800.00	Physician Covered Recipient	Common Stock
Cardiosolutions, Inc.	2020	$20,800.00	Physician Covered Recipient	Common Stock
Cardiosolutions, Inc.	2014	$20,800.00	Physician Covered Recipient	Common Stock
Cardiosolutions, Inc.	2015	$20,800.00	Physician Covered Recipient	Common Stock
Cardiosolutions, Inc.	2016	$20,800.00	Physician Covered Recipient	Common Stock
Cardiosolutions, Inc.	2017	$20,800.00	Physician Covered Recipient	Common Stock
Cardiosolutions, Inc.	2019	$20,800.00	Physician Covered Recipient	Common Stock
Cardiosolutions, Inc.	2022	$0.00	Physician Covered Recipient	Common Stock

Biography

Dr. Lars Svensson's specialty is thoracic surgery. Clinical interests for Dr. Svensson include rheumatic heart disease, pericarditis, and thoracoabdominal aneurysm (TAA). He is affiliated with Cleveland Clinic Main Campus. Dr. Svensson trained at The Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and a hospital affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine for residency. In addition to English, Dr. Svensson (or staff) speaks Zulu, Swedish, and Afrikaans.