Local News in Brief : Open-Heart Surgery

San Pedro Peninsula Hospital will begin performing open-heart surgery next year as part of a $4-million project to upgrade its cardiac care unit, according to the hospital. The project, expected to start within two weeks, will be completed late next spring. The project also calls for expanded cardiac catheterization services to assess heart damage. Dr. Larry Orosz, board chairman of the hospital, said the ability to perform cardiovascular surgery will make San Pedro a “full-service medical facility” and will increase its ability to serve the community’s growing senior citizen population. The hospital said that 12% of San Pedro’s residents are at least 65 years old.

The hospital board has allocated $2 million to the project. The remainder will be covered by fund raising and donations. Substantial donations already have been received, including $500,000 from the Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation of Long Beach and $100,000 from Rep. Glenn Anderson (D-Harbor City) and his wife, Lee.