Heart surgery Ex-USZ heart surgeon and clinic director Maisano defends himself
Francesco Maisano, the former head of the Zurich hospital and heart surgeon who was pilloried for his controversial cardio tape, rejects all accusations in an interview. Milan's San Raffaele Hospital, where Maisano is currently chief physician, has ordered an audit.
16.05.2026, 23:36
16.05.2026, 23:42
SDA
"In Zurich, we have kept the door open for even the most complex cases. And it is precisely through innovative procedures that we have limited the risks for these patients," Maisano told the NZZ am Sonntag. He was brought to Zurich to promote innovative procedures such as the use of the Cardioband. He added: "The university received a share of the income from my collaborations with industry."
Maisano welcomes the investigations in Italy and is convinced that they "will provide clarity".
He is concerned about "the silence of dozens of colleagues and former employees", says Maisano about the University Hospital Zurich (USZ). They know the facts and are keeping quiet "so as not to get caught out". And he emphasized: "If those in the know could speak freely, we would all learn more - in the interests of patients and institutions like the USZ, which I continue to hold in the highest regard."
Not an "unscrupulous innovator"
His portrayal in the media as an "unscrupulous innovator" is most inaccurate. He had developed techniques and devices as any doctor with the well-being of his patients at heart should: in search of safer, less invasive instruments that could reach people who could not be treated with traditional surgery.
The other injustice is the accusation of a lack of transparency. "All of our innovative procedures have been fully videotaped," Maisano said. Hundreds of specialists from all over the world had come to Zurich "to observe our techniques". "We published the results. There was complete transparency."
"Language and cultural barrier"
When asked about his own mistakes, Maisono says that he did not always succeed in "integrating my clinical vision into a cultural and institutional context that was different from my own". The "language and cultural barrier" played a role. He had not always built up all the necessary internal alliances.
In response to the accusation of dozens of unnecessary deaths during his operations at Zurich University Hospital, the heart surgeon replies that mortality is concentrated on conventional surgical procedures, not on innovative or catheter-based procedures. This is the most clinically relevant point that is missing most from the media coverage, which has made a false link between innovative procedures and mortality.
Eleven cases at the public prosecutor's office
And there were only eleven cases that ended up with the public prosecutor's office. It was clarified that no intentional aspects were identifiable as the cause of the deaths. "Eleven cases in five years out of a total of around 4,500 operations," emphasized Maisano.
There are also patients who enter the operating theater with a probability of death of up to 50 percent. One in two do not survive. Older people, with multiple illnesses, with complex anatomy, who have already undergone surgery before, patients that many centers reject because an operation would worsen the statistics.
His patients were informed about the risks and the innovative nature of the procedures before the operations. He was accompanied during patient consultations by a native-speaking medical assistant.
