Dr Michael Yii
Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Clinical interests
- Aortic surgery
- Aortic valve surgery
- Mitral valve surgery
- Total arterial grafting
- Valve replacement
- Hospital
- Bendigo
- Services
- Qualifications
- MBBS
- FRACS
- FRCS
- Master of Surgery
Graduated MBBS from St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (SVHM) in 1990. Advanced cardiothoracic training at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School and Hammersmith Hospital, London. Completed FRACS (Cardiothoracic Surgery) in 1999. Fellowship at the Royal Children Hospital, Melbourne and Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA.
Following my return to St Vincent’s Hospital as a consultant in 2000, I set up the atrial fibrillation ablation programme, surgical heart failure programme including device therapy and surgical ventricular restoration surgery. I introduced new and original techniques in mitral valve repair surgery and refined techniques in aortic surgery. In 2015, I initiated the total thoracoscopic AF ablation programme at Epworth Eastern Hospital.
I was the Acting Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery at St Vincent’s Hospital from 2005 to 2008 and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeon Supervisor for Advanced Cardiothoracic Surgical Training. I was directly involved with development of cardiac surgery in Asia, especially Central China and Myanmar, and was awarded the Yellow River Friendship award in recognition of this work.
I am an active participant in research and clinical trials and have been the principal investigator and co-investigators of multiple clinical trials in device development, as well as pharmacological and heart failure trials. In 2001, I established the Cardiothoracic Clinical Research Office at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, which have gained international recognition for research in cardiac and thoracic surgery.
I have a strong interest in accountability and quality issues and was a Director on the Board of the Australian Cardiac Surgery Research Institute from 2006 to 2018. This board oversees the Australasian Cardiac Surgery Database Project which provides annual confidential and public reports to the government, hospitals and surgeons, including monitoring performances of cardiac surgeons and departments in Australia and New Zealand.
My area of interest and expertise in adult cardiac surgery encompasses:
- Coronary artery bypass surgery including complete and total arterial revascularisation
- Valve surgery including replacements and repairs
- Complex surgery including redos
- Aortic surgery including valve sparing and arch surgery
- Surgery for atrial fibrillation
- Permanent pacemaker implantation and explantation of brady, tachy and CRT devices