On August 19, 2003, UM cardiac surgeons Bartley Griffith and James Gammie performed a first-of-its-kind operation by completely removing both of the heart's upper chambers, then reconstructing them with animal and human donor tissue to save the life of a woman with a recurring heart tumor.

This photo gallery offers a glimpse of what occurred during this 12-hour procedure. Be advised that some of the photos show the heart and inside of the body, and thus may not be suitable for everyone.