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. Minnesota has 1 practicing cardiac surgeon in Rochester.

Minnesota has a population of 5,132,799, more than half of which is in the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, also called the Twin Cities. Though St. Paul is the capital of Minnesota, Minneapolis is its largest city. Minnesota is known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” so summer water-based activities and winter ice fishing, skating, skiing and snowmobiling are popular in this state. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is located at Minnesota’s northern boundary. When in the Twin Cities, be sure to visit the nearby Mall of America in Bloomington; the most-visited shopping mall in the world.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Minnesota has a population of 5,132,799. Of this population, 1,189,370 are under the age of 18 and 621,336 are at or above the age of 65.