Dr. Rocco J. Lafaro, MD

Expert Publications

• Successful management of an aneurysmal aortoesophageal fistula.
• Recurrence of renal cell carcinoma with extensive vena caval thrombus three years after radical nephrectomy.
• Atherosclerotic pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta.
• Multimodality cardiac imaging of a patient with syncope.
• Repair of Circumflex Aortic Arch in an Adult.
• Extracardiac Fontan Operation Through a Right Thoracotomy.
• Pretreatment of human myocardium with adenosine during open heart surgery.
• Cardiac cavernous hemangioma mimicking pericardial cyst: atypical echocardiographic appearance of a rare cardiac tumor.
• Malignant renal tumor with extension to the inferior vena cava.

Media Releases

Get to know Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Rocco J. Lafaro, who serves patients in New York. 

Dr. Lafaro is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon who has over 30 years of experience in his field. In addition to his affiliation with Westchester Medical Center, he serves as Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx. St. Barnabas Hospital, a 422-bed, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, acute care community hospital and Level 2 Trauma Center, is authorized to treat the most critically ill and severely injured patients. As a New York State-designated Stroke Center and State-designated AIDS Center, it provides access to much-needed services in the community.

A 1982 graduate of the New York Medical College in Valhalla, Dr. Lafaro went on to complete his residency at Westchester Medical Center, followed by his fellowship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center. Thereafter, he became board-certified in thoracic and cardiac surgery by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, an American surgical organization devoted to surgery of the chest. Moreover, he holds a membership with several professional organizations, including the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Pertaining to his philanthropic endeavors, Dr. Lafaro is involved with the Association for the Protection of Animals and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Cardiothoracic surgery is the field of medicine involved in the surgical treatment of organs inside the thorax. Cardiothoracic surgeons are medical doctors who specialize in surgical procedures inside the thorax, which may involve the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other organs in the chest. Alongside performing surgery, they also diagnose and treat diseases of these organs. 

Recommended Articles

• Different Types of Heart Doctors Explained

  IntroductionDoctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions or diseases of the cardiovascular system (the heart and blood vessels) are called heart doctors or cardiologists. These specialists are trained to identify, treat, and help prevent heart issues. There are also different...

• Atrial Fibrillation: What is a Catheter Ablation?

  Atrial fibrillation - also known as AF or a-fib - is a medical condition that affects the rhythm of the heart. Problems that affect the rhythm of the heart cause a condition known as arrhythmia. This condition often causes irregular blood flow. It is quite common, with more than 200,000 cases in the...

• Are There Benign and Malignant Tumors of the Heart?

  It is a well-known fact that in the body, in various tissues due to various reasons, neoplasms sometimes appear in the form of tumor growths. The heart is not an exception. The tumor growth can be benign and malignant. Therefore, there are two types of the heart tumors.Benign tumors These do not...

• Complications of Myocardial Infarction

  Complications can be divided according to different factors:...

• Alternative Remedies to Treat Cardiovascular Diseases

  Herbal Treatment of the heart has been used by mankind for centuries and has shown an excellent effect. Especially effective was the use of medicinal plants in the case of chronic diseases, such as atherosclerosis and hypertension, where treatment involves a particular duration and a comprehensive...

• Treatment for Congestive Heart Failure

  The following methods work together to treat heart failure:...