Cardiac surgery involves surgery on the heart or heart valves. A cardiac surgeon performs heart surgery, also known as coronary artery bypass surgery, on patients who have heart disease or heart valve disorders. Reasons that may make heart surgery necessary are: coronary artery disease, congenital heart defects, disease of the heart valves, or heart attack. Some heart conditions can cause permanent damage to the heart muscle, and can be fatal.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Indiana has 3 practicing cardiac surgeons. Broken out by city, cardiac surgery doctor density in Evansville is 1, in Indianapolis is 1, in Munster is 1, and in Vincennes is 1.

Indiana’s population is 6,271,973, and most of the state’s population is located in the north, near the Lake Michigan shoreline, and is part of the greater metro Chicago area. Indiana became a state in 1816, and boasts many historical sites and covered bridges, numerous state parks and forests, hunting and fishing, and a variety of golf courses. Centrally located Indianapolis is home to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, hosting the world-famous 500-mile auto race every year. This capital and largest city of Indiana also hosts a Civil War museum, a planetarium, and the Indiana Historical Society, among many other attractions.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Indiana has a population of 6,271,973. Of this population, 1,566,280 are under the age of 18 and 774,303 are at or above the age of 65.