Locations
Office
Oklahoma City, OK
Phone
Practice website
About
Bio
I am a congenital heart surgeon. My personal goal is to reach out and help as many people as I can.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Thoracic Surgery
Languages spoken
English, Italian
Doctor Q&A
56 Answers
54 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 34-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
About 1%.: For a straight forward CABG operation, the mortality rate is less than 1% but as dr. Matos-cruz pointed out, there are many other risk factors that ca... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
I have a ventricular septal defect (vsd). is it dangerous, and will my baby have the same condition?

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Probably not.: Vsds are a common type of congenital heart defect, affecting .2% of the population, however most of them close on there own. There is no evidence that... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Yes: Yes, it is. In fact some centers prefer that route.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Diagnostic : For certain heart problems (cad), cardiac catheterization is the best diagnostic tool. Also, based on findings during cath, interventions can be done... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Understandable......: I'm curious to know what is your age? Typically, chest wall deformities appear during early childhood and may progress rapidly in severity during the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
It all depends.: Generally, this is not a high risk operation but that also depends on the experience of your surgeon and the overall quality of your institution. Ther... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Several test.: There are several tests for coronary artery disease. A thorough history and physical exam, ekg, ct scan, nuclear studies are all helpful but the best ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Concerning. : Without knowing you better, it's difficult to say precisely but you should absolutely have yourself check out by your doctor. The symptoms you describ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Several symptoms. : A (p)persistent (d)ductus (a) allows blood to be shunted from the aorta to the pulmonary artery therefore causing more blood to go to the lungs. If th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
CPR: CPR means cardiopulomnary resuscitation. When an individual suffers a cardiac arrest, blood circulation stops and organs suffer and the individual can... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
It depends.....: For the type 1 diabetes a poential cure would require a transplant of the islet cells from a donor; it's pretty complicated but possible. For type 2 d... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Cyanosis and CHF. : There is fairly wide variety of DORV but generally babies present with cyanosis or CHF depending on whether DORV is associated with pulmonary stenosis... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Not exactly: Appropriately, the chest wall deformity is called pectus carinatum. Another term is pigeon chest. Barrel chest is usually used to describe a patient w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Cyanosis and CHF. : The most important symptoms in ebstein's anomaly are related to the tricuspid valve being positioned too low inside the right ventricle. Essentially, ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Nutritional status. : A pre-albumin level gives us some insight as to the nutritional status of patients. If the pre-albumin is low it means the patient requires additional... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 57-year-old female asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
No it won't. : I am assuming you will have an aortic valve replacement. A bicuspid aortic valve is fairly common and you've had since birth. The valve can become ste... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Different anatomy: An ASD involves a defect (a whole) in the wall separating the two atria (upper chambers of the heart). A vsd involves a defect in the wall between the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Costocondritis: Without having much to go on, one possibilty is costocondritis. As the word implies, this is an inflammation of the rib cartilages. With breathing and... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Thoracic surgeons: Thoracic surgeons operate on the chest and the organs within: heart, lungs, esophagus, chest wall.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
It varies.: Repair of tetralogy of fallot, like other congenital heart defects, is a complex matter. Many different factors may influence the outcome, including t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old male asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Multidisciplinary. : Several specialties are involved with treating a patient with lung cancer. A pulmonologist, oncologist, surgeon, radiation oncologist. Hence, lung can... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
A 34-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
AHA sponsored course: The american heart association sponsors official CPR course (infant and adult) for which you can sign up for on line.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
What surgery?: It depends on what defect was treated. Some defects can be cured with surgery but others can only be palliated. Either way surveillance is important s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Physical and tests. : Physical exam, evaluation of risk factors, chest x-ray and ct scan would be the initial way of diagnosing lung cancer.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
It varies.: The average cardiac surgeries take about four hours but the actual time on the heart lung machine (bypass time) is about two hours. These time vary de... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
PE, CXR, Echo. : A physical exam, chest x-ray and, more importantly, an echocardiogram are the tests needed to diagnose a patent ductus arteriosus.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Very often.: In western industrialized societies, diet is possibly the most important risk factor for developing coronary artery disease and peripheral artery dise... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Exam and X-ray. : Pneumothorax is first and foremost diagnosed clinically based on symptoms (shortness of breath, increased breathing, oxygen requirement) and by listen... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Muscle in the RV. : The heart is a muscular pump and sometimes muscle bundles inside the heart can get in the way. There are two conditions where muscle in the right vent... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Not reliable test.: If an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has been present for a long time, calcium deposits in wall of the AAA may be visible on x-ray but this is unreli... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Contrast dye.: The dye that is injected during angiography will cause a momentary burning sensation.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Several months: The amplatzer device will eventually be covered by the inside lining of the heart but this process will take a couple months to occur. Until that time... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Not this long.: If the angioplasty and stenting were successful and it was truly a minor mi, you should have your strength back by now. You may be de-conditioned or t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old female asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Get checked out. : If you're very athletic and in excellent physical condition, this may be normal. On the other hand, it might be worth while to have your doctor check ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old male asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
No you shouldn't.: Dear themalteser,
bicuspid aortic valve is very common, affecting 1 to 2% of the general population. In fact, it is the most common congenital heart ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Not really.: Atrial septal defects are the most benign congenital heart defects. A small percentage may become smaller over time and close on there own. If not, th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Uncommon situation.: Atherectomy means removal of the atheroma, that is, of the plaque that is causing the blockage of the artery. This particular procedure is rarely perf... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Tradional CABG: A traditional cabg, involves using the heart-lung machine to sustain circulation while the heart is stopped so it can be operated on. Saphenous vein a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 61-year-old female asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Not uncommon: It's not uncommon to be soar at the cath site. Discoloration is also typical as i little bit of bleeding at the site will cause a black and blue area.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Excitement: During sex, there is an increase of adrenalin. The heart is very sensitive to Adrenalin and the effect (in your case) is to skip a heart beat.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
No.: Coughing would decrease the risk of having a heart attack or lessening the consequences of a heart attack. Please don't count it as a remedy!
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Either or...: Either a pediatric cardiologist or a perinatologist can perform a fetal echocardiogram although i would rather the cardiologist do it; they read echoe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Yes.: There definitely is an association between pectus excavatum patients and a thin body habitus as well marfan's syndrome and marfanoid characteristics.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
No not really.: Exsercise and good poster are important but these measures will not correct your indented sternum (or pectus excavatum or funnel chest). The chest wal... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Absolutely yes!: Cocaine can cause accelerated coronary artery disease (CAD) as well as problems with brain circulation. It's typical to see younger patients with a hi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Echocardiogram. : An echocardiogram is a type of ultrasound focused on the heart. It is a non-invasive test that can diagnose fluid (including blood) around the heart.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Heart failure. : The more common symptoms associated with truncus are heart failure related. Basically, since the pulmonary arteries are coming off directly from the a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Likely, however...: Given the chronic shortage of organs, transplant candidates have to be sorted out very carefully. For a 26 year old many efforts would be made to find... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Yes. : Pectus excavatum surgery is in part done for esthetic reasons so i always try to manage my patients' expectations. Results from surgery are good and y... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:

Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Medication: Usually therapy is with medications li similar to left heart failure. Diuretics, beta blockers, ace inhibitors. If a specific cause can be identified ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
2
Recommendations
214
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Paliotta is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Paliotta is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! I can't lift anything above 20kg. It is extremelly difficult
HealthTap member
dear dr paliotta, thankyou so much for your reply, thats very reassuring.
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer or tip was very helpful!
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Rome-La Sapienza Faculty of Medicine, Italy
Graduated 1991MD
Affiliations
Society of Thoracic Surgeons
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